A leading Jewish advocacy organization is sounding the alarm after documenting 32 reported antisemitic incidents across Canada in just the past week. B’nai Brith Canada has issued an urgent call to Prime Minister Mark Carney, demanding immediate government action to address what it describes as an accelerating crisis.
A Week of Widespread Incidents
The group, which has tracked antisemitic acts in its annual audit since 1982, cited a disturbing range of events from coast to coast. Among the incidents reported in early January 2026 was the vandalism of a Winnipeg synagogue, where red swastikas were spray-painted on its walls. In Toronto, a Jewish couple was harassed at a mall while on their way to see a film. At a rally in Montreal, a man publicly referred to Israelis as "pedophile Nazis."
B’nai Brith emphasized that these 32 incidents occurred across five provinces, signaling a spread beyond isolated urban centers. "Antisemitism in Canada is now accelerating at an increasing rate, spreading across provinces, platforms, and public spaces," the organization stated in a social media post on January 14. "That is a warning signal, and it demands more than piecemeal reactions."
Calls for a Royal Commission and Stronger Leadership
In a formal letter delivered to the Prime Minister's office on Thursday, January 15, 2026, B’nai Brith made two key requests. First, it urged the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into antisemitism in Canada. The group argued that such an inquiry, with a mandate to assess threats and identify systemic drivers, is needed now and cannot wait for a tragedy on Canadian soil.
The organization pointed to the deadly terror attack on Australia's Jewish community at Bondi Beach on December 14, where 15 people were murdered. "Canada cannot wait for a Bondi of its own before acting," B’nai Brith warned. Following that attack, the Australian government committed to establishing its own inquiry.
Secondly, the advocacy group called on Carney to appoint a new special envoy to combat antisemitism and preserve Holocaust remembrance. The previous envoy, Deborah Lyons, retired in July 2025, and the position remains vacant.
Government Response and Proposed Measures
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Mark Carney's office confirmed receipt of the letter in a statement to the National Post. The statement acknowledged "a horrifying rise of hate, particularly since Hamas’s October 7th terrorist attack" and affirmed the government is "taking action to combat the scourge of antisemitism and protect Jewish Canadians."
The spokesperson highlighted the proposed Combatting Hate Act (Bill C-9), which aims to make it illegal to intimidate or obstruct access to religious or cultural buildings. B’nai Brith CEO Simon Wolle expressed support for this "urgent federal legislation" but stressed that more is needed, stating "Canada remains afflicted by a worsening crisis of antisemitism."
Additional government actions mentioned include reviewing the Canada Community Security Program, which funds security for at-risk communities, and collaborating with provinces to improve hate crime training for police and prosecutors.
As investigations into incidents like the Winnipeg synagogue vandalism continue, community leaders and advocates are pressing for a comprehensive national strategy to counter the rising tide of hatred.
