Canadian government policy on anti-Zionism and antisemitism

The Canadian federal government has released a progress report through Public Safety Canada regarding its National Commitments to Combat Antisemitism. The report identifies ‘anti-Zionism’ as a driver of anti-Jewish hate and characterizes antisemitism as a national security matter linked to violent extremist ideologies.

While the government notes that its use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition is not legally binding, it is utilized for training police, justice officials, and educational institutions. The report highlights that antisemitic incidents continue to manifest through harassment, intimidation, and violence in schools, workplaces, and online.

The policy has drawn mixed reactions. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs has expressed support for recognizing these threats. Conversely, the grassroots organization Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) has criticized the stance as an ‘appalling capitulation’ to pro-Israel lobby groups. IJV argues that anti-Zionism is a political position regarding Palestinian rights and that conflating it with antisemitism threatens freedom of expression in Canada.