The Jewish Federation of Ottawa recently hosted three roundtables with front-running mayoral candidates ahead of this year’s municipal election taking place on October 26.

Each candidate was asked questions about their platforms as well as about issues of concern to Ottawa’s Jewish community. The process also served as an opportunity to inform the candidates what Jews in Ottawa have experienced over the last few years as antisemitism and violent forms of antizionism have continued to rise.

The questions were organized under the following three themes:

Hate and Safety

Federation shared with the candidates that security has become a daily worry for Jewish families in Ottawa, and that it is at the forefront of our minds when planning community events and organizing logistics for Jewish holiday celebrations. This includes not publicizing event locations and needing to hire dedicated security personnel. 

Candidates were asked how the city will cooperate with Jewish organizations to push back against antisemitism and if they will continue to support the enforcement of the Safe Access By-law, or “bubble by-law,” that was passed by City Council earlier this year.

They were also asked how the city can help shoulder the burden of security costs when it comes to stationing police outside of Jewish community events and holiday celebrations.

Support, Representation, and Education

The federal government has described the rise in antisemitism as a failure of the social compact, calling it a “national crisis.” Many Jewish Ottawans have felt increasingly isolated and ostracized, as well as occasionally feeling abandoned by civic institutions. Federation expressed to candidates the critical role that City Hall plays in reversing this trend by ensuring Jewish residents feel represented, supported, and included.

In particular, Federation asked candidates about their commitment to attending Jewish community events and festivals, such as the Yom HaAtzmaut flag raising at City Hall, Holocaust remembrance, and marking October 7.

Questions were also asked about how city agencies, programs, and civic institutions would be equipped to recognize, prevent, and respond effectively to antisemitism under their leadership. Federation discussed putting a greater emphasis on antisemitism education within the city’s anti-racism work and asked that the city ensures that it is implemented across all agencies using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. 

Israel, Zionism, and Municipal Government

Since October 7, hostility towards Israel and Zionism has increasingly affected Jewish residents in Ottawa, including efforts to marginalize or exclude Jews based on their real or perceived connection to Israel. 

Candidates were confronted with questions about whether they would allow foreign international campaigns, such as the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, to be brought into city politics.

Furthermore, Federation ensured that the candidates understood the difference between legitimate criticism of the State of Israel and expressions of hate or threats to Jews and Israelis living in Ottawa.

To learn more about these conversations and about where each candidate stands on these issues, as well as some of the other points on their respective platforms, please read the three articles about the mayoral candidates, as well as the survey results with the same questions posed to candidates for City Council and school trusteeships by ward. 

Understanding where each candidate stands is essential when going to the polls on October 26. Federation encourages everyone in our community to exercise their democratic right and vote. Strong voter turnout ensures that our concerns are recognized and that our needs are addressed.

The questions that were posed to the candidates are available in Federation’s Election Guide, which can be viewed by clicking here.