Ministers Anandasangaree and Fraser present progress report on National Commitments to Combat Antisemitism

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 24, 2026 /CNW/ -- Today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, and the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, issued the following statement:

"The safety and inclusion of Jewish communities remain a priority for the Government of Canada. No one should face harassment, intimidation, threats, or violence because of their identity, faith, or community.

We strongly condemn acts of hate and violence, including the shocking shooting that took place outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on Yom Kippur.

We recognize that many Jewish Canadians continue to face antisemitism in their daily lives, including in schools, workplaces, online spaces, places of worship, and communities across the country. We have heard the concerns of Jewish communities and remain committed to working with them, law enforcement and community partners across Canada to ensure Jewish Canadians can live, study, work, worship, and participate in public life safely, freely, and without fear of hatred, intimidation, or violence.

Today, we released the Progress Report on the National Commitments to Combat Antisemitism: Summer 2026 , the first public update following the release of the National Commitments earlier this year. The report was developed in collaboration with federal and provincial partners, law enforcement, and community stakeholders. It highlights actions being taken across Canada to improve understanding of antisemitism, strengthen supports and protections for affected communities, and improve how institutions prevent, identify, and respond to antisemitic incidents.

The report demonstrates progress already underway across Canada, including strengthened training and awareness efforts and enhanced community safety measures. This includes $75 million over five years through the 2026 Spring Economic Update for the Canada Community Security Program to enhance the security of community gathering spaces that serve communities at risk of hate-motivated crime, improved coordination among partners, and measures to strengthen accountability. These initiatives are important in protecting  Jewish communities, and addressing the broader societal impacts of antisemitism.

The Government of Canada recognizes that antisemitism can also be a matter of national security. Beyond the direct harm it causes to Jewish individuals and communities, antisemitism is a core component of many violent extremist ideologies. It can contribute to radicalization and violence, and threatens social cohesion and democratic values.

The passage and coming-into-force of the Combatting Hate Act was a key milestone. The Act strengthens protections against hate. It makes it a crime to intimidate or obstruct people from accessing places used by Jewish communities and other identifiable groups, such as places of worship, schools, and community centres. It also creates a specific hate-motivated offence and prohibits the willful promotion of hatred against Jewish communities and other identifiable groups by publicly displaying certain terrorism or hate symbols. The hate symbols listed include two Nazi symbols that are frequently weaponized against Jewish communities.

In the months ahead, partners will continue implementing the National Commitments through expanded training, stronger reporting and data collection, implementation of recent legislative measures, and ongoing engagement with Jewish communities to help inform future action.

Combatting antisemitism requires sustained leadership and continued action. By working together, we will continue advancing our shared goal of addressing antisemitism and strengthening the safety and inclusion of communities across Canada."

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SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC)

Contacts: Simon Lafortune, Deputy Director of Communications and Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Gary, Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, [email protected]; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657, [email protected]; Joannie Fogue, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, [email protected]; Media Relations, Department of Justice Canada, 613-957-4207, [email protected]