Social Problem Resolved?
Annual Al-Quds rally, Queen's Park, Toronto - August 28, 2011.
More than a century has past since the begging of Jewish immigration to Canada, and the subsequent antisemitic acts committed by the government until the 1940`s. Throughout the next few decades Jewish Canadians, many arriving from Eastern Europe after surviving the horrors of the Holocaust, were still subjected to discrimination. The implementation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 (specifically the equality rights section), as well as the establishment of several Jewish organizations and community advocacy groups, has helped the Jewish community slowly obtain more equal treatment and fairness under the law. For example the CCRF has strict anti-hate laws which make it simpler to prosecute those involved in crimes against Jewish persons. The trial and deportation of the Canadian neo-Nazi Ernst Zundel is one example of the successful use of these laws. In fact the Parliament has established a committee to study the problem, the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat antisemitism. But although such major improvements by the government have helped relieve the tolerance of certain elements of antisemitism (i.e. hate crimes, discrimination, education rights etc.) the problem still has not been fully resolved.
Though Antisemitism is currently on a much smaller scale in Canada, and there have been great efforts made by the government to prevent it from occurring within the Country, it cannot be regarded on a solely local level. Our own domestic life in Canada is influenced by affairs around the world, and we are unfortunately part of the global attack on the Jewish faith, centered on the foundation of Israel in 1948, and the American support of that state. Rising tensions between Arabs and Jews, particularly over the issue of the Palestinians, has seen the spread of anti-Semitic violence world-wide, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, but also here at home. As one writer has stated: "The current tensions between Jews and Muslims in Canada are based on the Middle East conflict, as well as the spillover of Antisemitism into anti-Israel activity […these] are factors that must be discussed, painful and controversial as this may be," said Frank Dimant, executive vice-president of B'nai B'rith Canada.”
There has been an ongoing series of violent events since that date –three Arab-Israeli wars (1948, 1967, and 1973) that redefined the boundaries of the Middle East and have instigated an ongoing conflict that is now worldwide. This conflict has led to a second series of violent events that have brought it closer to Canada. The 9-11 bombings and the London/Madrid Bombings had connections to Canada, either through casualties that were Canadian citizens, or terrorist connections that originated in Canada. Recently for example, an attempt to bomb a Via train from New York to Toronto was thwarted by the RCMP. The alleged conspirators are reportedly tied to Al Qaeda, one of whose stated goals is the destruction of the State of Israel, and American and Canadian support for that State. According to B’Nai Brith, this is a major factor that has led to increased levels of antisemitic incidents, specifically the emergence of radical groups in Europe that have not been adequately checked, and the increase in Muslim immigration to Canada. While the organization is pleased to be working with a number of Muslim groups towards better mutual understanding, it also points out that there has been a large increase in the number of individuals who identify themselves as Muslim and who hold antisemitic views. Canada is thus caught in a difficult position, since our country is very dependent on immigration to maintain our population and to improve our ability to compete globally. However, even with laws in place that are meant to discourage or punish antisemitism, it continues to exist, or increase, as conflicts originating in other countries are brought here by these new Canadians.
Though Antisemitism is currently on a much smaller scale in Canada, and there have been great efforts made by the government to prevent it from occurring within the Country, it cannot be regarded on a solely local level. Our own domestic life in Canada is influenced by affairs around the world, and we are unfortunately part of the global attack on the Jewish faith, centered on the foundation of Israel in 1948, and the American support of that state. Rising tensions between Arabs and Jews, particularly over the issue of the Palestinians, has seen the spread of anti-Semitic violence world-wide, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, but also here at home. As one writer has stated: "The current tensions between Jews and Muslims in Canada are based on the Middle East conflict, as well as the spillover of Antisemitism into anti-Israel activity […these] are factors that must be discussed, painful and controversial as this may be," said Frank Dimant, executive vice-president of B'nai B'rith Canada.”
There has been an ongoing series of violent events since that date –three Arab-Israeli wars (1948, 1967, and 1973) that redefined the boundaries of the Middle East and have instigated an ongoing conflict that is now worldwide. This conflict has led to a second series of violent events that have brought it closer to Canada. The 9-11 bombings and the London/Madrid Bombings had connections to Canada, either through casualties that were Canadian citizens, or terrorist connections that originated in Canada. Recently for example, an attempt to bomb a Via train from New York to Toronto was thwarted by the RCMP. The alleged conspirators are reportedly tied to Al Qaeda, one of whose stated goals is the destruction of the State of Israel, and American and Canadian support for that State. According to B’Nai Brith, this is a major factor that has led to increased levels of antisemitic incidents, specifically the emergence of radical groups in Europe that have not been adequately checked, and the increase in Muslim immigration to Canada. While the organization is pleased to be working with a number of Muslim groups towards better mutual understanding, it also points out that there has been a large increase in the number of individuals who identify themselves as Muslim and who hold antisemitic views. Canada is thus caught in a difficult position, since our country is very dependent on immigration to maintain our population and to improve our ability to compete globally. However, even with laws in place that are meant to discourage or punish antisemitism, it continues to exist, or increase, as conflicts originating in other countries are brought here by these new Canadians.