Liberal Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather talks to reporters as he arrives to a caucus meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. Elected officials are raising the alarm about what they say is an increase in antisemitism in Canada after a Montreal-area synagogue and a local Jewish organization were hit with firebombs earlier this week. Housefather told reporters this morning that he has never seen a time when Jewish Canadians have felt as scared. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
OTTAWA – Federal politicians are raising the alarm about what they say is an increase in antisemitism in Canada after a Montreal-area synagogue and a local Jewish organization were hit with firebombs this week.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather told reporters this morning he has never seen a time when Jewish Canadians felt as scared as they do now.
Housefather says the firebombing, which caused minor damage to the synagogue he attended as a child, is not something that can be taken lightly.
As the Israel-Hamas war enters its second month, he is calling on police to “crack down” on hate speech and crimes.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today the country is seeing a “terrifying” rise in antisemitism, including threats of violence aimed at Jewish establishments.
He said both Jews and Muslims in Canada have been targeted by expressions of hate and violence, calling the acts unacceptable.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2023.
