Tackling antisemitism and hate should be a priority, Jewish leaders and MPs say

Tackling antisemitism and hate should be a priority, Jewish leaders and MPs say MARIE WOOLF OTTAWA PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO Open this photo in gallery: The shooting at Sons of Jacob synagogue illustrated the gravity of the security situation for Canadian Jews, Liberal MP Anthony Housefather said. DAVID LECLAIR/THE GLOBE AND MAIL COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. Days after a shooting attack on a synagogue in Belleville, Ont., the government faced calls, including from Jewish leaders, to boost federal funding for community security, noting that some small synagogues can’t afford it. A federal rule requiring synagogues contribute almost a third of the cost of security improvements, such as reinforcing doors and windows, means that some small communities can’t access the government funding, said Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, an advocacy group. The Belleville synagogue targeted by a shooter on Yom Kippur, on Sept. 20, had only rudimentary security, Mr. Shack said, adding that if a heroic police officer had not intervened to stop the shooter, the outcome would likely have been horrific. The CIJA CEO called on the government to be flexible with the funding rules saying that improving security at Jewish community buildings is an urgent matter. In the spring, the federal government earmarked $75-million over five years, starting in 2026–27, for the Canada Community Security Program, which provides funding and support for communities at risk of hate-motivated incidents and hate-motivated crimes to boost security. But institutions that tap into the funding need to cover 30 per cent of the costs. Belleville synagogue shooting was a ‘hate-motivated’ crime, police say At a Thursday press conference in Ottawa, Mr. Shack and Liberal and Conservative MPs said that tackling antisemitism and hate should be a priority, including on university campuses. Jewish students recounted how they have had to cope with open expressions of antisemitism including Hitler salutes. Kate Blumberg, a student at McMaster University, said Jewish students were being singled out in tutorials, excluded from groups and finding that campus spaces no longer felt welcoming to them. “Unfortunately, we live in a time when being recognizably Jewish on campus, whether by our names, the necklace you wear or the kippa that adorns your head, comes with…