An open letter signed by 66 prominent non-Jewish Canadian leaders condemns rising antisemitism and calls for stricter enforcement of the country's anti-hate laws. Published in Saturday's National Post and other Postmedia papers, the letter includes signatures from senior executives at Telus, National Bank, Sunlife Financial, Rogers Communications, and Scotiabank, as well as former prime minister Stephen Harper, former Toronto mayor John Tory, and emeritus academics from the University of Toronto. Andrew MacLeod, CEO of Postmedia, is also a signatory.
Key Demands and Statements
The letter outlines three recommendations: “zero tolerance for hate,” “consistent enforcement of anti-hate laws,” and “discipline in public discourse.” It quotes Prime Minister Mark Carney’s June 1 speech at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto: “It requires all of us to raise our voices in disgust and defiance when we see the ugly face of antisemitism…. The time has come. Canadians must stand up for each other.”
“Words from political leaders matter. This is not about restricting free speech,” the letter states. “No Canadian should be threatened, harassed or attacked because of their faith. In Canada, we need to treat each other equally and with respect, regardless of one’s religion, ethnicity or cultural heritage.”
Reactions and Context
The signatories described the effort as “ad hoc” and united by concern over rising antisemitism. Pat Johnson, an executive with Upstanders Canada, a mostly non-Jewish group fighting antisemitism and anti-Zionism, praised the initiative: “It’s a powerful and necessary statement. For every name on the letter, we know there are thousands of Canadians who support the sentiment.” However, he added, “This letter is a great step in the right direction, but we also need millions of ordinary Canadians. These are business leaders; these are leading figures in society, and that is wonderful — that’s excellent. But we really need ordinary Canadians who agree with this message to stand up.”
Carney’s speech drew criticism from some Canadian Jews for not mentioning Zionism. Johnson, who is not Jewish, expressed frustration with that omission, noting his career advocating for progressive causes.
