Jewish Community Safety Index

Comprehensive Country Assessment • Seven Pillar Framework

SPOTLIGHT

🇨🇦

CANADA

December 2025

45

CONCERNING

⚠️ SUSTAINED SECURITY CRISIS: Canada experienced 6,219 antisemitic incidents in 2024 – a 124% increase from 2022. Multiple terror plots disrupted, Jewish schools shot at repeatedly, synagogues firebombed, and youth radicalization at alarming levels with 1 in 10 CSIS investigations involving minors.

Seven Pillar Summary

#	Pillar	Weight	Score	Assessment
P1	Legal & Government Framework	10%	73	Strong – Holocaust denial law; IHRA adopted; Envoy appointed
P2	Security Infrastructure	10%	58	Moderate – Funding increased; no national Jewish CSO
P3	Criminal Justice Outcomes	10%	52	Moderate – Significant data gaps; enforcement unclear
P4	Threat Environment	18%	24	CRITICAL – Multiple terror plots; sustained attacks
P5	Movement Ecosystem	15%	38	Concerning – Samidoun banned; HuT legal; active protests
P6	Cultural & Societal Climate	15%	55	Moderate – BDS active; strong heritage recognition
P7	Lived Experience & Community Voice	22%	38	Critical – Community fear; identity concealment; low trust

✓ CRITICAL STRENGTHS

Holocaust Denial Criminalized: Section 319(2.1) enacted 2022; first conviction Oct 2025
Lowest Global Antisemitism: 8% on ADL Global 100 – tied 3rd lowest globally
Strong Gun Control (93/100): 2,500+ assault weapons banned; handgun freeze 2022
Charter Protections: s.2(a) religious freedom; s.15 equality; s.27 multiculturalism
Samidoun Banned (Oct 2024): Listed as terrorist entity

✗ CRITICAL VULNERABILITIES

Multiple Terror Plots: ISIS father-son plot; youth radicalization surge
Sustained Attacks: Schools shot at repeatedly; synagogues firebombed
Youth Radicalization: 1 in 10 CSIS investigations involve minors
Record Incidents: 6,219 (2024) – 17 per day; 124% above 2022
No National Jewish CSO: Unlike UK (CST) or Australia (CSG)

FORMULA: Spotlight = (73×0.10) + (58×0.10) + (52×0.10) + (24×0.18) + (38×0.15) + (55×0.15) + (38×0.22) = 45/100

Assessment Period: October 2023 – December 2025 | Seven Pillar Framework | Report Date: December 2025

Canada Spotlight – Detailed Assessment

📊 DEMOGRAPHIC CONTEXT (Reference Data – Not Scored)

Indicator	Measurement	Source
Jewish population	~335,000-400,000 (~1% of total)	Census/CIJA
Muslim population	~1.8 million (4.9% of total)	Census 2021
Muslim:Jewish ratio	~5:1	Calculated
Geographic concentration	83% of Jews in Ontario/Quebec (Toronto/Montreal)	Demographics
Geographic overlap	High – Both communities concentrated in Toronto/Montreal	Analysis

PILLAR 1: Legal & Government Framework (10%)

73/100

1.1 Hate Crime & Discrimination Laws (25%)

82/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
National hate crime legislation exists	Criminal Code ss. 318-320.1; Canadian Human Rights Act	85	Criminal Code
Antisemitism legally defined	IHRA adopted 2019; Handbook Oct 2024	90	Government
Holocaust denial criminalized	Section 319(2.1) enacted June 2022; first conviction Oct 2025	100	Criminal Code
Sentence enhancement for hate crimes	Section 718.2(a)(i) – aggravating factor	75	Criminal Code
Charter protections	s.2(a) religion; s.15 equality; s.27 multiculturalism	85	Constitution

1.2 Government Structure & Responsiveness (40%)

70/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Special Envoy for Antisemitism	Deborah Lyons appointed Jan 2023; retired Jul 2025; vacancy	60	PM Office
Envoy empowered to propose legislation	Advisory role; contributed to Handbook development	55	Mandate
Envoy empowered to set/influence policy	IHRA Handbook (Oct 2024); cross-government coordination	70	Government
National action plan on antisemitism	$273.6M Action Plan on Combatting Hate (Budget 2024)	80	Budget 2024
Official liaison with Jewish community	CIJA direct access; regular consultations	75	CIJA

1.3 Gun Control & Weapons Regulation (20%)

93/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Gun accessibility restrictions	Firearms Act; PAL required; background checks	90	Firearms Act
Assault weapons regulation	2,500+ assault-style firearms banned (May 2020); Bill C-21	95	OIC/Legislation
Handgun regulation	National handgun freeze (Oct 2022)	95	Bill C-21
Firearms per capita	~35 per 100 (vs. USA 120 per 100)	85	Small Arms Survey

1.4 International Obligations & Terror Designations (15%)

55/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Hamas designated as terrorist org	Full listing since 2002	100	Public Safety
Hezbollah fully designated	Full listing since 2002	100	Public Safety
Hizb ut-Tahrir designated	Not proscribed – legal in Canada	0	Public Safety
Samidoun designated	Listed as terrorist entity (Oct 2024)	100	Public Safety
IRGC designated	Not proscribed – despite parliamentary votes	0	Public Safety

PILLAR 1 CALCULATION: (82×0.25) + (70×0.40) + (93×0.20) + (55×0.15) = 73/100

PILLAR 2: Security Infrastructure (10%)

58/100

2.1 Physical Security Resources (40%)

62/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Dedicated security funding	Security Infrastructure Program; $273.6M hate action plan	65	Budget/PSC
Per capita security investment	~$685 per capita Jewish (est.) – lower than UK/Australia	55	Calculated
Police presence at Jewish sites	Variable by jurisdiction; increased post-Oct 7	60	Police
Physical hardening support	SIP grants available; 1,300% security cost increase burden	55	PSC/Community

2.2 Jewish Community Security Organization (35%)

50/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
National security organization exists	NO – Unlike UK (CST) or Australia (CSG)	25	Analysis
Regional security coordination	UJA Federation Toronto; local organizations	55	Community
Professional staff & resources	Fragmented; no unified national structure	45	Community
Training programs offered	Some regional programs; not standardized	55	Community

2.3 Government-Community Coordination (25%)

65/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Joint threat assessment mechanism	CSIS-community liaison; RCMP engagement	65	CSIS/RCMP
Incident reporting system	B'nai Brith reporting; police coordination varies	60	B'nai Brith
Emergency response protocols	Standard police protocols; no Jewish-specific national system	60	Analysis

PILLAR 2 CALCULATION: (62×0.40) + (50×0.35) + (65×0.25) = 58/100

PILLAR 3: Criminal Justice Outcomes (10%)

52/100

3.1 Investigation & Prosecution (40%)

50/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Hate crime prosecution rate	Limited data; Vancouver ~70% conviction rate (2019-23)	55	VPD/Courts
Specialized hate crime units	Some major city units; Toronto, Montreal	55	Police
Clearance rate for antisemitic crimes	Not systematically tracked nationally	40	Analysis
Terror plot prosecutions	ISIS father-son plot prosecuted; youth cases ongoing	55	Courts/Media

3.2 Data Collection & Reporting (35%)

50/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Mandatory hate crime reporting	Only J7 nation without monthly hate crime data	35	StatsCan
Civil society documentation	B'nai Brith Annual Audit – comprehensive	80	B'nai Brith
Data disaggregation	Religious motivation tracked; detail varies	50	StatsCan
Official vs. community data gap	Significant – B'nai Brith 6,219 vs. police reported ~3,200	40	Analysis

3.3 Judicial Response & Sentencing (25%)

58/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Appropriate sentencing patterns	Variable; some high-profile cases appropriately sentenced	55	Court Records
Hate crime enhancements applied	s.718.2(a)(i) available; application varies	60	Criminal Code
First Holocaust denial conviction	October 2025 – demonstrates law enforcement	70	Courts

PILLAR 3 CALCULATION: (50×0.40) + (50×0.35) + (58×0.25) = 52/100

PILLAR 4: Threat Environment (18%)

24/100

🚨 CRITICAL: Canada faces sustained multi-vector threats. Multiple terror plots disrupted in 2024-2025 including ISIS father-son plot (Toronto). Jewish schools shot at repeatedly (Bais Chaya Mushka 3x; Montreal schools). Synagogues firebombed (Beth Tikvah 2x). Youth radicalization at alarming levels – 1 in 10 CSIS investigations involve minors.

4.1 Physical Violence & Attacks (40%)

20/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Terror plots disrupted	ISIS father-son plot (Jul 2024); multiple youth plots	15	RCMP/CSIS
Institutional attacks	Schools shot at repeatedly; synagogues firebombed 2x	15	Police/Media
Physical assault rate	Elevated; multiple violent incidents documented	25	B'nai Brith
Gun control impact	93/100 – Strong controls limit mass casualty potential	93	Analysis

4.2 Incident Volume & Trends (35%)

22/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Total incidents (2024)	6,219 – 124% above 2022 baseline; 17 per day	15	B'nai Brith
Year-over-year trend	Sustained elevation since Oct 2023	20	B'nai Brith
Per capita rate	~1,750 per 100,000 Jewish population	20	Calculated
Online harassment	86% of incidents online	25	B'nai Brith

4.3 Terror & Extremist Threats (25%)

30/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Youth radicalization	1 in 10 CSIS investigations involve minors	15	CSIS
ISIS/Islamist terror threat	Elevated – Multiple plots; active recruitment	25	CSIS
Far-right extremist threat	Active; some proscribed groups	40	CSIS
Hamas presence	~450 operatives/financiers with Canadian ties documented	25	Global News

PILLAR 4 CALCULATION: (20×0.40) + (22×0.35) + (30×0.25) = 24/100

PILLAR 5: Movement Ecosystem (15%)

38/100

5.1 Islamist Movement Presence (40%)

35/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Hizb ut-Tahrir activity	Legal; active chapters; public events	15	HuT/Media
Samidoun activity	Banned Oct 2024 – positive action	80	Public Safety
Hamas presence	Designated but ~450 operatives/financiers documented	25	Global News
IRGC-linked activity	Not proscribed; documented presence	20	CSIS/Media

5.2 Radical Activist Networks (35%)

38/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Protest movement scale	Sustained weekly protests since Oct 2023; major cities	25	Police/Media
Campus activism	Major encampments; 55%+ students feel unsafe	30	Universities
Violence at demonstrations	Multiple incidents documented	40	Police
Palestine solidarity infrastructure	Well-organized; significant mobilization capacity	35	Analysis

5.3 Far-Right/Extremist Movements (25%)

45/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Far-right extremist threat	Active; CSIS monitoring; some proscribed	40	CSIS
Neo-Nazi organizations	Some proscribed (Blood & Honour, Combat 18)	55	Public Safety
Online extremism	Active; platform enforcement challenges	45	Analysis

PILLAR 5 CALCULATION: (35×0.40) + (38×0.35) + (45×0.25) = 38/100

PILLAR 6: Cultural & Societal Climate (15%)

55/100

6.1 Political Discourse & Leadership (40%)

55/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Official condemnation of antisemitism	PM, ministers condemn; some partisan tensions	60	Government
Political figure statements	Mixed – Some problematic statements; general support	50	Media
Media coverage quality	Variable; some bias concerns	50	Analysis
Academic discourse climate	Campus tensions; 55%+ students feel unsafe	45	Surveys

6.2 BDS & Boycott Activity (30%)

50/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Government anti-BDS measures	Some provincial action; no federal legislation	50	Government
Campus BDS activity	Active at multiple universities; some divestment votes	40	Universities
Corporate boycott campaigns	Some targeting; variable success	55	Media

6.3 Cultural Recognition & Integration (30%)

62/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
Holocaust education	Mandatory in most provinces from Fall 2025	75	Education
Memorial infrastructure	National Holocaust Monument Ottawa; provincial memorials	75	Government
Public antisemitism awareness	8% on ADL Global 100 – tied 3rd lowest globally	90	ADL
Interfaith relations	Mixed; some tensions post-Oct 7	50	Community

PILLAR 6 CALCULATION: (55×0.40) + (50×0.30) + (62×0.30) = 55/100

PILLAR 7: Lived Experience & Community Voice (22%)

38/100

7.1 Community Perception of Safety (40%)

28/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
% who feel safe as Jews	Estimated 25-35% (sharply declining)	30	Surveys
% feel antisemitism is serious	~90%+ report serious concern	10	CIJA/Surveys
% feel situation has worsened	~90%+ report significant worsening	10	Surveys
Trust in government response	85% believe government should do more	15	CIJA

7.2 Behavioral Adaptation (35%)

48/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
% who hide Jewish identity in public	Estimated 40-50% in public	50	Surveys
% who avoid Jewish symbols/clothing	Estimated 45-55% avoid	45	Surveys
% who avoid certain areas/events	Estimated 50-60% avoid some areas	45	Surveys
% who considered emigrating	Estimated 30-40% considered	55	Surveys

7.3 Community Vitality & Protective Factors (25%)

52/100

Indicator	Measurement	Score	Source
General public favorability toward Jews	8% antisemitic (ADL) – tied 3rd lowest globally	90	ADL Global 100
Political representation & access	Moderate – Jewish MPs; CIJA access; some recent tensions	55	Parliament
Jewish school enrollment trend	Stable but concerned – Security costs 1,300% increase burden	55	Education
Interfaith solidarity	Mixed – Some strong allies; some religious tensions	50	Community

PILLAR 7 CALCULATION: (28×0.40) + (48×0.35) + (52×0.25) = 38/100

Key Findings

✓ CRITICAL STRENGTHS

Holocaust denial criminalized (100/100): Section 319(2.1) enacted 2022; up to 2 years imprisonment; first conviction October 2025
Lowest baseline antisemitism globally: 8% on ADL Global 100 – tied 3rd lowest of 103 countries
Strong gun control (93/100): 2,500+ assault-style firearms banned since 2020; national handgun freeze 2022
IHRA definition adopted early (2019): Comprehensive Handbook published October 2024
Charter protections: Section 2(a) religious freedom, Section 15 equality, Section 27 multiculturalism
Samidoun banned (Oct 2024): Listed as terrorist entity; demonstrates willingness to act
Major investment: $273.6M Action Plan on Combatting Hate (Budget 2024)
Holocaust education: Mandatory in most provinces from Fall 2025; museum funding

✗ CRITICAL VULNERABILITIES

Multiple terror plots: ISIS father-son plot (Toronto Jul 2024); youth plots (Ottawa); Montreal teen (Aug 2025)
Sustained institutional attacks: Beth Tikvah firebombed twice; Bais Chaya Mushka school shot at 3x; Montreal school shootings
Youth radicalization crisis: 1 in 10 CSIS investigations involve minors; declining perpetrator age
Record incident levels: 6,219 incidents (2024) – 124% above 2022 baseline; 17 per day; 86% online
No centralized Jewish security organization: Unlike UK (CST) or Australia (CSG)
Criminal justice data gaps: Only J7 nation without monthly hate crime data
Low trust in government: 85% believe federal government should do more
Campus climate crisis: Major encampments; 55%+ students feel unsafe; BDS activity
Hamas presence: ~450 operatives/financiers with Canadian ties documented

Final Score Calculation

SPOTLIGHT SCORE FORMULA

Spotlight = (P1×0.10) + (P2×0.10) + (P3×0.10) + (P4×0.18) + (P5×0.15) + (P6×0.15) + (P7×0.22)

Spotlight = (73×0.10) + (58×0.10) + (52×0.10) + (24×0.18) + (38×0.15) + (55×0.15) + (38×0.22)

Spotlight = 7.3 + 5.8 + 5.2 + 4.32 + 5.7 + 8.25 + 8.36 = 45/100

Score Range	Classification	Canada
80-100	HIGH SAFETY
60-79	MODERATE SAFETY
40-59	CONCERNING	← CANADA (45)
0-39	CRITICAL

Data Sources & Methodology

Pillar	Primary Sources
1. Legal/Gov	Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Criminal Code, Firearms Act, Budget documents, Parliament records, IHRA, Envoy mandate
2. Security	Budget papers, Public Safety Canada, Security Infrastructure Program, CIJA reports, provincial funding announcements
3. Criminal Justice	RCMP, Crown prosecutors, Court records, Statistics Canada, Vancouver Police data
4. Threat	B'nai Brith Annual Audit 2024, CSIS reports, RCMP, police data, media monitoring
5. Movements	CSIS, Public Safety proscription lists, academic research, Global News investigations
6. Culture	Media monitoring, university data, CRA records, government cultural programs
7. Lived Exp	FRA EU surveys (proxy), ADL Global 100, CIJA surveys, community data