We are devastated by the loss of life at CFB Wainwright. Our hearts are with the families, friends, and fellow service members grieving for the loved ones they lost. May their memories be a blessing. We are also keeping all those injured in our thoughts and praying for their full and speedy recovery. Canada’s Jewish community stands with the brave men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces, who put their lives on the line every day to protect our country and keep Canadians safe.

Last summer, Jewish Edmontonians were celebrating their culture and identity when hateful protesters, chanting antizionist slogans, targeted the Israeli Pavilion, followed by a man slashing a pavilion tent with a knife. Today, we join @JewishEdmonton in commending the @EdmontonPolice for charging the attacker. But serious questions remain: Are the criminal remedies available to combat hate-motivated offences being enforced transparently and consistently? And what are authorities doing to deter the public incitement of hatred that is likely to lead to a breach of the peace, which we are seeing on campuses and at festivals from Edmonton to Toronto and across Canada? That is why we support Justice Minister @SeanFraserMP in advancing his commitment to bring provincial and territorial Justice and Public Safety Ministers together to establish clear guidelines for strong, consistent enforcement of existing and new laws. This is about more than the safety of one community. As Prime Minister Carney said last June, it is about upholding the Covenant that makes Canada an inclusive democracy.

Joint Statement by CIJA and Jewish Federations of Canada – UIA: Jewish Canadians are emerging from Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, to the horrifying images of gunfire outside Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, where members of the Jewish community had gathered to pray. We are profoundly grateful to Constable Jeff Smith who acted heroically in risking is own life to protect his fellow Canadians. Our entire community prays for his full and speedy recovery. The investigation into last night's events is ongoing, but one fact requires no investigation: Jewish Canadians should not need armed police outside their synagogues simply to pray safely. Canadians cannot accept a future, as now exists in Europe, in which synagogues and Jewish schools can only operate safely behind permanent armed police and soldiers with machine guns. With Parliament returning this week, governments at every level must turn their attention to the domestic situation and the growing threat of extremist violence here in Canada. We are calling for immediate action: · Leaders need to speak clearly: antizionism is driving violence against Canadians. The demonization of Israel offers a green light for extremists who target the Jewish community. This includes when governments single Israel out or hold it to a double-standard. Canadian security officials have repeatedly warned about the potential for international conflicts and grievances to be exploited by extremists at home. Governments must take that threat seriously and confront antisemitism consistently, including when it is expressed through double standards in foreign policy, and the demonization or delegitimization of Israel. · Convene federal, provincial and territorial attorneys general and public safety ministers to prioritize enforcement, disrupt extremist networks, strengthen intelligence coordination, and ensure those who threaten or perpetrate violence are held accountable. · We need streamlined processes that enable Jewish institutions to rapidly request and secure paid-duty police officers during periods of elevated attendance and risk. The framework should allow for prioritized and expedited approvals, a designated point of contact within participating police services, and access to sufficient federal funding to help offset paid-duty policing costs. · Confront extremist ideologies, organizations and foreign state actors that promote, finance, facilitate or direct violence in Canada, including the documented threat posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies. No more thoughts and prayers. The clock is ticking and our leaders must act before lives are lost.

What difference can one phone call make? More than you might think. A call to an elected official takes only a few minutes. When hundreds or thousands of us call together, we send a message that is hard to ignore. This High Holiday season, be ready to add your voice. Sign up for CIJA text alerts: cija.ca/text_messages

Last month, at the Edmonton Heritage Festival, volunteers and performers at the Israel Pavilion faced an aggressive protest and a frightening security incident. But they refused to be driven away. The dancers continued performing, volunteers continued welcoming visitors, allies stood alongside them, and together the community proudly celebrated. As @JewishEdmonton CEO @YegStacey put it: “We’re going to decide what defines us.” Click here to read more: frequencynews.ca/news/commun…