Canada Announces New Advisory Council to Combat Hate, Replacing Special Envoy Roles
In a significant policy shift, the Canadian government has decided against appointing new special envoys to tackle antisemitism and Islamophobia. Instead, federal officials have launched an Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion to address these critical issues. This move comes despite urgent calls from advocacy groups to fill the vacant positions, which have been open since the summer.
Vacant Positions and Advocacy Concerns
The role of Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism has remained unfilled since Deborah Lyons stepped down in July. Lyons, who served from 2023 until 2025, was appointed by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in October 2023, coinciding with heightened tensions following attacks in Israel. Prior to her, Irwin Cotler held the position from 2020 to 2023.
In mid-January, B’nai Brith Canada urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to appoint a new envoy through an open letter. The organization emphasized that leaving the office empty during a national crisis of escalating threats undermines coordination, weakens accountability, and deprives affected communities of dedicated federal leadership. They highlighted a concerning rise in antisemitic incidents across Canada, stressing the need for immediate action.
Government Response and New Approach
Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller explained to reporters that the special envoy roles will be integrated into the new advisory council. According to the Canadian Press, Miller stated that this council aims to bring communities together to combat hate more effectively. His press secretary, Hermine Landry, reinforced this in a statement, noting that hate is hate, and as Canadians, we must be united in confronting it.
Landry added that the council will build on the work of previous envoys, with details on the transition and expert appointments to be finalized in the coming weeks. This decision also affects the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia role, previously held by Amira Elghawaby since January 2023, which is similarly being discontinued.
Community Reactions and Expectations
Jewish advocacy groups have expressed mixed reactions to the announcement. Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, called for immediate concrete action on solutions long advocated by the Jewish community. In a statement, he emphasized the need for support on security and addressing hate sources to safeguard all Canadians. Shack stressed that the new approach must achieve meaningful outcomes in combatting the unprecedented wave of antisemitism and extremism in Canada.
This policy change reflects a broader governmental strategy to consolidate efforts against hate crimes, rather than maintaining separate envoy positions. As Canada faces increasing reports of antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents, the effectiveness of this advisory council will be closely monitored by communities and stakeholders nationwide.
