U.S. antisemitism envoy urges Canada to tighten visas and terrorism listings

U.S. Special Envoy for Antisemitism Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, appointed in December, visited Ottawa to press Canada to revoke visas and expand terrorism listings in response to a surge in anti‑Jewish hate crimes. Canadian police recorded 788 hate crimes targeting Jews in 2025, up from 492 in 2021, and recent incidents included gunfire at the U.S. consulate in Toronto, attacks on two Jewish‑owned bakeries, and a fire that heavily damaged a kosher restaurant in Montreal.

Kaploun warned that “the levels of hate in Canada are unbelievably high” and called for stronger government action. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office said the government has taken steps to curb antisemitic attacks, but no specific policy changes were detailed at the time of the remarks.