The Increasingly Vulnerable Place of Jewish-Canadians Within Canada

"The findings suggest that condemnation alone has not been enough."

"While many leaders have denounced antisemitism since October 7, the survey shows that a significant minority of Canadians still believe that events in the Middle East justify negative attitudes toward Jewish Canadians."

"It [new poll results] suggests that public education should not only focus on people who hold openly antisemitic views, but also on the much larger group that may not recognize when criticism about Israel becomes rhetoric that targets Jews and that presents a threat to Jewish Canadians' sense of safety and belonging." 

Jack Jedwab, president, Association for Canadian Studies  

 According to a newly-released Leger survey, almost a third of Canadians believe that anti-Jewish attitudes have become more acceptable. The highest level of agreement to that observation was among university students (37 percent), though altogether 31 percent of those questioned held that view. Among men (38 percent agreed) and (35 percent) held that view, ages 18  to 34. The survey found that among English speakers 35 percent agreed that antisemitism is now more socially acceptable, while among francophones that number was 16 percent.

 

"Israel's military actions in Gaza justify negative attitudes toward Jewish people in Canada", struck a chord with just over a fifth of respondents (22 percent), as opposed to the almost half (49 percent) who disagreed. Once again those aged 18 to 34 (26 percent) and men (29 percent) led the way in agreement with the statement. Of those Canadians surveyed, some one-sixth (17 percent) agreed they now have more negative emotions toward Jews since the October 7 terrorist attacks in southern Israel, though a majority (62 percent) disagreed.

 

Women's opinion at (68 percent), college students (66 percent) and Canadians past age 55 (69 percent), were likelier to disagree even as those who were part of the survey and born outside Canada were likelier to agree (24 percent), than those respondents who were Canadian-born (16 percent). 

 

For the statement whether "Jews in Canada are responsible for the actions of the Israeli government", nine percent of all respondents, plus eight percent of those born in Canada were in agreement, even as twice the number of those born outside the country (15 percent) agreed. 73 percent of respondents born in Canada and 62 percent of those born elsewhere, were in disagreement with the statement.  

 

Over a third of respondents (39 percent) found agreement that calls for Israel to cease to exist are antisemitic, though slightly over a quarter (28 percent) disagreed -- with younger Canadians aged 18 to 34 being less likely (34 percent) than those over 55 years of age (47 percent) to agree over the antisemitic nature of such sentiments.

 

As for the question posed to English speakers and francophones -- 39 percent versus 40 percent revealed little difference between the groups. The variance between those born in Canada at (39 percent) and those born abroad (41 percent), also revealed minimal differences. 

 

Interestingly, slightly over a third of respondents (39 percent) were of the opinion that Prime Minister Mark Carney "should publicly condemn calls for Israel to cease to exist as a state", as opposed to just under a quarter (24 percent) disagreeing. The survey was conducted between June 5 and 7, questioning a total of 1,518 respondents.  

"The importance of the minority who don't think it is antisemitic to say that Israel should cease to exist as a state is very worrisome and I think speaks to some nefarious motivation on the one hand and a fair degree of confusion on the other and in either there is an important degree of unlearning that is needed."

"That, along with the share of the group that is uncertain about the issue, points to a glaring misunderstanding about where antisemitism begins."

"It reveals that many Canadians are unclear about the distinction between criticism of Israeli government policy and rhetoric that denies Jewish self-determination altogether."

Jack Jedwab, Association for Canadian Studies