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e-4985 (Public safety)

E-petition
Initiated by Nelly Shin from Coquitlam, British Columbia

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the House of Commons

Whereas:
  • On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other terrorist organizations, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), launched a massive terrorist attack on Israel;
  • Hamas and PIJ are designated terrorist entities;
  • Police vigilance to the Jewish community has since increased;
  • Bomb threats, death threats, violence, vandalism of Jewish homes, schools, and synagogues, and boycotting of Jewish-owned businesses are causing many Jewish Canadians to experience re-traumatization of the Holocaust and feel unsafe to reveal their Jewish identity;
  • Rallies across Canada include antisemitic rhetoric, hate symbols, intimidation, illegal encampments on campus and praise for Hamas and other terrorist groups;
  • While Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows for peaceful demonstrations and protests, sections 318 and 319 of the Criminal Code forbid the promotion of genocide, public incitement of hatred, and the wilful promotion of hatred;
  • Section 83.01 ff. of the Criminal Code address offences pertaining to committing and facilitating terrorism;
  • Robust enforcement of Sections 318, 319 and 83.01 ff. of the Criminal Code will help restrict proliferation of threats and keep our communities safer;
  • Deferred intervention communicates public tolerance of antisemitism, allows further victimization of Jewish Canadians, emboldens terrorists and those espousing extremist views, and can incite further violence and raise Canada’s national terrorism threat level; and
  • Urgent action is needed to counter antisemitism and keep all Canadians safe.
We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to enact urgent public safety and national security measures to ensure proper and timely enforcement of Sections 318, 319 and 83.01 ff. of the Criminal Code.

Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Parliamentary Secretary James Maloney

Our Government is committed to combatting hate propaganda and hate crimes. That is why we have taken deliberate and concerted action to address this troubling behaviour. Bill C-63, An Act to enact the Online Harms Act, to amend the Criminal Code, the Canadian Human Rights Act and An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts proposes, in part, additional reforms to better combat hate propaganda and hate crimes. This includes increasing the maximum penalties for the hate propaganda offences when prosecuted as indictable offences.

We have also appointed a Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Countering Antisemitism whose mandate supports our efforts to combat hate in all its forms. We have also made significant investments to respond to these crimes including $90.5 million through Budget 2024 to combat antisemitism. In addition to these measures, our Government introduced changes to criminalize the wilful promotion of antisemitism by denying, condoning or downplaying the Holocaust; these changes are now in force. We will continue to take steps to ensure everyone in Canada can live free from hate, bias and discrimination.

To better protect communities, on October 1, 2024, our Government launched the new Canada Community Security Program (CCSP). The CCSP replaces and enhances the Security Infrastructure Program (SIP) to support communities by investing in security measures that will help keep them safe. Eligible measures include security equipment and hardware, minor renovations to enhance security, security and emergency assessments and plans, training to respond to hate-motivated events, and time-limited security personnel. Our Government has listened to organizations and partners and has designed the CCSP to be more responsive to community needs and provide more flexibility to organizations seeking financial support.

Our Government is unwavering in its commitment to addressing hate crime and terrorism, in all their forms.

Open for signature
May 13, 2024, at 2:15 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
September 10, 2024, at 2:15 p.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Marc Dalton (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge)
October 7, 2024 (Petition No. 441-02671)
Government response tabled
November 20, 2024
Photo - Marc Dalton
Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge
Conservative Caucus
British Columbia