JSpaceCanada does not typically comment on matters of domestic antisemitism, as our work is focused on Canadian foreign policy as it relates to Israel and Palestine.
That said, as a Jewish organization guided by Jewish teachings and values, we would be remiss not to offer broader reflections on the Prime Minister’s remarks. While we do not advocate for specific domestic government policies, an area that falls outside our mission and mandate, we believe there is value in speaking to the principles and challenges raised in the speech.
Prime Minister Carney acknowledged many of the concerns that we have consistently highlighted in our work: the importance of Canadian values, the promises Canadians make to one another and to our allies, and the ongoing tension between the universal and the particular in a pluralistic society.
On the question of Canadian values, the Prime Minister was absolutely right to note that the promise of this country is our ability to hold our differences in common, while also recognizing that this promise is currently being tested. We share that assessment. Part of both the strength and the challenge of a liberal democracy is the ongoing work of maintaining common ground while respecting profound differences. This balance is never static; it requires constant effort, good faith, and civic commitment.
The strain on that balance extends well beyond antisemitism. More broadly, Canadian society is becoming increasingly polarized, and our collective ability to engage constructively across disagreement is weakening. As the Prime Minister rightly observed in his speech, “conspiracy becomes discourse.” That warning should concern all Canadians.
The rise of conspiracism, extremism, and polarization poses a threat not only to Jewish communities, but also to the democratic values that underpin Canadian society: freedom of expression, tolerance, pluralism, and mutual respect. These trends erode trust, weaken social cohesion, and make it more difficult to address the legitimate concerns of any community.
This is also where the Prime Minister’s discussion of particularism and universalism was especially important. He correctly noted that acknowledging other forms of hatred is not an exercise in false equivalence. Rather, it is a recognition that many of the same forces driving antisemitism are also contributing to rising levels of hatred and intolerance more broadly. If we fail to address those underlying drivers, we will struggle not only to combat antisemitism effectively, but also to build a safer and more cohesive Canada for everyone.
“We acknowledge that members of our community are rightfully scared, concerned, and in need of immediate safety and protection,” said JSpaceCanada Executive Director Maytal Kowalski. “At the same time, if we want to address the cause rather than merely the symptom, we must confront the deeper resurgence of hate, conspiracism, and polarization in Canada. We appreciate the Prime Minister’s address and his willingness to engage these difficult realities. Much as we argue in our discussions about Israel, to love a country is to work toward its best self. As the Prime Minister noted, we must work to build ‘the country we aspire to be.’”
JSpaceCanada looks forward to continuing to represent a segment of the Canadian Jewish community, just as our colleagues across the Jewish communal landscape represent other perspectives and constituencies. Together, we can serve as important partners to governments of all political stripes in helping renew and strengthen the Canadian covenant—one rooted in democratic values, mutual responsibility, and a shared commitment to a more inclusive and resilient Canada.