As the federal election approaches on April 28, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa hosted roundtable discussions with local candidates from the Liberal and Conservative parties. While all NDP candidates were invited, only one candidate responded. Due to scheduling constraints, Green Party candidates were not invited.

These discussions provided a meaningful opportunity for candidates to hear directly about the issues that matter most to Jewish Ottawans. The conversations focused on three key themes:

Community Safety and Rising Hate Crimes

As hate crimes against Jews continue to rise, many in our community are increasingly concerned for their safety. Federation presented data from the Ottawa Police Service (2024) to ensure candidates understood the gravity of the situation.

Incidents have included the vandalism of Jewish-owned businesses, protests at Jewish spaces such as synagogues and long-term care homes, and the targeting of Jewish neighbourhoods. Most notably, Ottawa’s Jewish community was the intended target of an Islamic State terror plot that led to the arrest of two teenagers.

A central topic of discussion was bubble zone legislation, which would prohibit protests near vulnerable social infrastructure, including faith-based institutions.

Combatting Antisemitism at the Federal Level and as MPs

It is more important than ever for the Jewish community to know who its allies are. Candidates were asked directly whether they support the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which clearly outlines what constitutes antisemitic rhetoric, including as it relates to discourse around the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Additional discussions covered the rise of antisemitism in the workplace and strategies for addressing online hate and radicalization.

Canada-Israel Relations

With Israel top of mind for many, the strength of the Canada–Israel relationship remains a key issue for Jewish voters. While there is hope that this relationship will continue to grow, concerns were raised about the Vote Palestine platform (votepalestine.ca/platform), which has been endorsed by some local candidates. Candidates were urged to understand the harm such endorsements can cause to the Jewish community.

Similarly, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has gained traction in some political circles. If enacted, BDS policies would dismantle long-standing bilateral relations between Canada and Israel — ties the Jewish community values deeply.

We encourage you to read each article in this series to gain insight into how candidates and parties are addressing Jewish concerns. The articles provide summaries of the roundtable discussions with the Liberals and Conservatives, along with an overview of each party’s platform, to help inform your decision at the polls.

While Federation does not endorse any political party, we strongly encourage all members of our community to exercise their democratic right to vote. High voter turnout ensures that our voices are heard and that our priorities are recognized by those in power.

To support informed participation, our advocacy partner, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), has created a helpful election hub.

This resource includes tools to help you find your riding, register to vote, and advocate for the Jewish community in this important election