Threats Against Jewish Community Should Be Taken ‘Very Seriously,’ Says Minister Gould

Police investigate the Yeshiva Gedolah school for clues after shots were fired at two Jewish schools in Montreal on Nov. 9, 2023. The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz

The Jewish community is on “high alert” amid a rise in antisemitism and the threats against its members should be taken “very seriously,” says Government House Leader Karina Gould.

“This is a very scary time for a lot of people. I think the community is resilient in many ways, but certainly people are on high alert,” she told Global News in an interview aired on Nov. 12.

“I think we need to take these threats very seriously to make sure that we don’t see an escalation where someone, God forbid, gets hurt or even killed here in Canada,” added the minister, who is Jewish.

Ms. Gould noted the recent incidents in Montreal, including two attempted arsons against Jewish institutions, and Jewish schools being fired upon three times.

Montreal police have opened investigations into a morning shooting at the Yeshiva Gedola school on Nov. 12, and separate shootings there and at the Talmud Torah Elementary School three days earlier. The incidents happened outside school hours and no one was injured.

Montreal also saw physical altercations last week on the Concordia University campus between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine individuals, resulting in one arrest and several injured.

Tensions have been building since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas inside Israel and the subsequent retaliation.

“I think there’s a recognition, there’s a lot of hurt and there’s a lot of pain coming out of what’s happening in the Middle East … whether you’re Jewish or Muslim, Israeli or Palestinian there’s a lot of fear and a lot of anxiety,” said Ms. Gould.

“People are hurting a lot. But I think it’s also incumbent upon folks to not look at their neighbour and see anything but a Canadian right now.”

The Liberal government has supported Israel’s right to defend itself according to international law, but pressure has been building for it to call for a full ceasefire. So far Ottawa has only called for humanitarian pauses.

On the flip side, pressure has also been mounting for the federal government to condemn more forcefully the rising antisemitism leading to attacks against the Jewish community in Canada.

The Jewish Community Council of Montreal (JCC) wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Nov. 12, saying the community is “on edge” and asking for an increase in funding and the reduction of red tape to bolster the protection of the more than 100 organizations it represents.

Ottawa announced on Nov. 6 an additional investment of $5 million to strengthen the security of communities at risk of hate-motivated crimes.

The JCC said the federal support is insufficient and that police are limited in what they can do.

“Our understanding is that resources are stretched and that they do not have the capacity to enhance their presence and services,” the JCC said. “We urgently need your help in addressing the fears of our community and ensuring our safety and well-being.”

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has called the attacks against the Jewish community acts of terrorism.

“You can have any opinion you want about what’s happening in the Middle East. That’s your business. But you do not have the right to attack your fellow Canadians,” Mr. Poilievre told reporters on Nov. 13.

“We call on all levels of government to team up and protect the community against this terrorism and this hatred.”