Key facts
- Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a new Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion.
- The council aims to combat racism and hate, with a specific focus on antisemitism.
- Two members, Omar Alghabra and Avnish Nanda, have faced criticism for their past statements and associations regarding Israel and pro-Palestinian activism.
- Critics argue the appointments undermine the council's purpose of fighting antisemitism.
- B'nai Brith Canada acknowledged Carney's solidarity but expressed concern that the council's scope and authority are insufficient to address the crisis.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged action against antisemitism in Canada, announcing a new Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion. However, the appointments to this council have drawn significant backlash, particularly concerning two members: former Liberal MP Omar Alghabra and lawyer Avnish Nanda. Critics have raised alarms about Alghabra's past public mourning of Yasser Arafat and his silence when asked to condemn the October 7th Hamas attacks, as well as his earlier criticisms of Israel. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre also mentioned Alghabra's past lobbying efforts regarding Hezbollah. Nanda is criticized for representing efforts to maintain a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Alberta, which critics argued created a hostile environment for Jewish students. Carney stated that the council's mission is to combat racism and hate in all forms and acknowledged that the crisis of antisemitism in Canada is specific, severe, and demands a targeted response. B'nai Brith Canada, a leading Jewish advocacy organization, welcomed Carney's solidarity but expressed concerns that the council lacks the necessary power and scale to effectively address the growing crisis. They are calling for a National Emergency Task Force on Antisemitism. Activist Ariella Kimmel echoed these sentiments, arguing that Canada has a specific 'Jew-hatred problem' and that the current approach is too broad. Reports indicate a significant rise in antisemitic incidents in Canada, with B'nai Brith Canada documenting 6,800 incidents in 2025, a 9.4% increase from the previous year.