The recent violent attack at a synagogue in Belleville, Ont., has sparked concerns about the increasing antisemitism and racist conspiracies in Canada, according to the head of a major Jewish advocacy group. Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, emphasized the need for greater awareness and action in addressing this troubling trend following the Yom Kippur gun attack, which resulted in a police officer being critically injured and the assailant killed.
Speaking at a press conference on Parliament Hill, Shack highlighted the alarming nature of the attack, stressing that such incidents could occur anywhere in the country. He was joined by Jewish university students who shared their experiences of encountering more instances of antisemitism, both on and off campus.
In response to the rise in hate-motivated incidents, Parliament recently passed the Combatting Hate Act, introducing new Criminal Code offences for hate-motivated intimidation targeting identifiable groups, including the display of specific Nazi symbols. Liberal MP Anthony Housefather advocated for specialized prosecutors to handle all hate-related cases, with support from federal justice and public safety ministers.
Authorities confirmed that the shooting outside the synagogue was a hate-motivated attack against the Jewish community. Police Chief Murray Rodd disclosed that the shooter had uttered threatening remarks before opening fire on an officer outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue.
