Audit on antisemitism in Canada - 2004
On March 15, 2005 the League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada released its 2004 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, an annual study on antisemitism in this country. The Audit documented an increase in the number of individuals acting out on their feelings of prejudice in a progressively less restrained way. The Audit also noted signs that a climate is being created in which open expressions of antisemitism are becoming increasingly acceptable.
Antisemitic activity has risen dramatically, with a 46.7% increase country-wide in 2004 compared to 2003. In total, 857 incidents were reported, the highest number in the twenty-two year history of the Audit. Since 2000, the total number of incidents has increased more than three-fold.
The highest increases were in the categories of both violence and vandalism, where the numbers doubled on average. In the category of harassment, one third of the year's cases involved threats of physical harm, including death threats.
The Audit also rings an alarm on relations between communities in Canada. In 2004, just as in 2003, the group responsible for the most antisemitic acts in Canada was made up of people apparently from Arab origin. In fact, the number of acts belonging to this category of people has increased 122%.
The Audit expresses hope that the Arab community will decide to recognize the problem instead of denying it and will implement strategies within it's own community and educational structures to improve the situation. One cannot remain silent anymore about the existence of antisemitism and hostility towards Israel within certain groups that commit acts against Jews.
Mr. Doudou Diène, of the United Nations' Commission on Human Rights on contemporary racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance made an interesting observation: "In reality, hostility towards Jews manifests itself in a new context marked by new forms of antisemitism tied to the Middle East conflict. They compound a chronic antisemitism that originates in the History of Europe."
Antisemitic incidents in Canada in 2004
Province Number Percentages Ontario
530 61,8 % Quebec
204 23,8 % Manitoba
55 6,4 % Alberta
33 3.9 % Saskatchewan
3 0,4 % British Columbia
17 2 % Altantic Provinces
14 1,6 % Northern Regions
1 0,1 % Total
857 100 % Click here for a summary of the Audit.
You can also consult the complete Audit here: http://www.bnabrith.ca/