The National Forum on Combatting Antisemitism, held March 6 in Ottawa, was organized to bring together allies from across Canada to discuss how the government can strengthen its strategies to combat antisemitism. Convened by Minister Rachel Bendayan, then-Minister of Official Languages and Associate Minister of Public Safety, now Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, in cooperation with Canada’s Special Envoy on Antisemitism Deborah Lyons, the forum created space for government officials to listen directly to Jewish community representatives about the growing concerns they continue to face, particularly in the wake of October 7 and the ensuing war.
Representing the Ottawa Jewish community were Marci Surkes, Chair of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa's Communications and Community Relations Committee; Vice Chair of the Board, Danya Vered; and Jonathan Calof, University of Ottawa Special Adviser on Antisemitism.
Together, they joined a broad cross-section of leaders from federal, provincial, and municipal governments, alongside law enforcement. Attendees included Minister of Justice Arif Virani, Minister of Public Safety David McGuinty, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya’ara Saks, and deputy ministers from Public Safety, Heritage, and Justice at both the federal and Ontario levels.
Municipal leaders such as Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca were present, along with law enforcement officials including Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs — who spoke compellingly — and the RCMP’s Deputy Commissioner, who highlighted the force’s convening power and commitment to training. Their presence underscored the seriousness with which antisemitism is now being addressed across all levels of leadership.
Many critical topics were covered, including public safety, campus security, and the need to combat antisemitism and anti-Israel bias in education. This gathering allowed Jewish community representatives to speak as one voice and impress upon government leaders the urgency of the moment.
"Although tangible outcomes are hard to measure in the short-term,” said Surkes, “the presence and commitment of law enforcement leaders from across jurisdictions was particularly heartening."
With a federal election looming and Mark Carney having recently assumed the role of Prime Minister, these discussions took place against a backdrop of global and domestic upheaval, reflecting one of the most tense moments in recent memory.
Still, there was a shared sense among attendees that government leaders were finally acknowledging the need to do more to curb antisemitism in every corner of Canadian life.
“Our asks were the same as always: policies, funding, and enforcement so that we can live our Jewish lives without fear,” said Vered. “What was different this time was a feeling of accountability from non-Jewish actors.”
For those engaged in the fight against antisemitism, progress often feels elusive. Despite millennia of struggle, Jew-hatred persists. Yet, moments like this forum offer a rare glimmer of hope and an opportunity to recognize meaningful steps forward.
“Law enforcement and university representatives in particular talked about the need for their institutions and leadership to do more, to do better,” Vered continued. “For the first time, it felt like the different orders of government were actually talking to each other like partners.”
Campus security emerged as a major concern, with disturbing reports of encampments, vandalism, and the targeting of Jewish students and faculty dominating headlines since the war began.
Despite widespread alarm, improvement has been slow. Equally important was hearing law enforcement reaffirm their commitment to protecting Jewish communities and ensuring the security of Jewish spaces.
"The impression that was left with me was — at a minimum — police leaders recognize that combating this hate is a holistic process that will require deep commitment to extensive training, community outreach, and transparency," said Surkes. “Our community needs to believe that the police will be there to protect us; hopefully, that will be the case.”
While hesitation remained, Ottawa’s Jewish representatives delivered a strong and unified message: enough is enough. And it seemed to resonate.
“The comment from many I talked to was 'let’s work together and stop reinventing the wheel.' These kinds of events are critical for developing networks and new ideas and the forum did not disappoint,” summarized Calof.
While the forum marked an important milestone, it cannot be a standalone event. It was understood that this must be a launchpad for continued advocacy and accountability. With an election on the horizon, leaders from all parties must be held accountable for the commitments they made. There can be no regression — this momentum must translate into concrete policy action.
The Jewish Federation of Ottawa will continue its advocacy efforts to ensure that the conversations and promises made at the forum lead to sustained and measurable change.