As August reaches its midway point, the Canadian news cycle is currently dominated by a range of pressing issues that have managed to break through the sea of out-of-office notifications and the onslaught of back-to-school ads. From the highly anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade war, the country is grappling with major international developments that carry serious economic repercussions.
Here at home, Canadians are likely aware of the severe wildfire season, rising youth unemployment, and brewing labour tensions–reports that have all contributed to a crowded news cycle during a notoriously slow time of year. Yet several stories highlighting cases of antisemitism across the country have not received the same level of attention. Despite circulation on social media, online news platforms, and through traditional media outlets, what stands out most is the conspicuous absence of meaningful responses from political leaders.
One such example occurred last week in Montreal, when a Jewish man taking his three children to a park in broad daylight was assaulted. Before fleeing the scene, the attacker threw the man’s kippah into the water. A suspect has since been arrested and charged.
While the incident drew a strong rebuke from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, members of the Liberal government, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, were notably slow to issue a public condemnation. When a social media response from his account was issued a day after the incident took place, it made no mention of the term antisemitism.
According to Statistics Canada, antisemitism, and hate crimes targeting Jewish communities across Canada are on the rise, with a 71 per cent increase reported between 2022 and 2023. In 2024, attacks against the Jewish community outweighed any other types of religiously motivated attacks.
What happened in Montreal last week isn’t an isolated incident. Both the data and personal accounts of rising hate make it clear that such acts are becoming increasingly common across the country. From bomb threats at Jewish schools to death chants on the steps of historic buildings, to the vandalism of Holocaust memorials, the signs all point to a troubling trend that is only getting worse.
A “think now, act later” communications strategy might seem sensible on paper, especially for risk-adverse corporate boards or political leaders who want to stay above the fray, but it offers little in the way of comfort to at-risk communities who face a real and credible threat of danger. And while the slower pace of a summer news cycle might tempt some to avoid engaging with issues that don’t feel to be in the immediate public interest, that instinct is misguided.
What Jewish communities need and deserve is a clear, unequivocal condemnation of antisemitism and hate-motivated attacks, not carefully worded statements that require interpretation or reading between the lines. It also raises a question that every Canadian should consider: if not now, when?
Josie Sabatino is a Senior Consultant at Summa Strategies, focused on providing strategic insight and helping clients meet their objectives in an ever changing and complex political and regulatory environment. Prior to joining Summa, Josie spent nearly a decade in political communications and most recently served as the Director of Communications to the Hon. Erin O’Toole, former Leader of the Official Opposition.
