Fewer Canadians believe antisemitism, Islamophobia a problem: poll By: John Longhurst Posted: 2:19 PM CDT Friday, Jun. 21, 2024 Last Modified: 3:54 PM CDT Friday, Jun. 21, 2024 Updates

A decreasing number of Canadians believes antisemitism and Islamophobia are serious problems in this country, a new survey says.

In an Angus Reid Institute survey released on June 18, 69 per cent of Canadians said antisemitism and Islamophobia are a problem, down from 78 per cent in December 2023. Sixty-six per cent said anti-Muslim hatred and prejudice is a problem, a decrease of nine per cent since late last year.

In Manitoba, 62 per cent of those polled said anti-Muslim hatred is a problem, while 72 per cent feel that way about antisemitism.

The results are much different for Jews and Muslims who were polled. Ninety-five per cent of Canadian Jews said antisemitism is a problem in Canada while 88 per cent of Canadian Muslims believe Islamophobia is a problem.

The data shows “a discord” between Jews, Muslims and other Canadians, the institute said, noting there has been a “dramatic increase of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.”

Jeff Lieberman, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, says the findings should concern all Canadians as they “highlight a significant disconnect between the experiences of Jewish and Muslim communities and the broader Canadian public.”

Lieberman noted there’s been a dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents nationwide since Oct. 7, acts that have affected people of all ages, from school-aged children to adults.

This includes Winnipeg, which “has seen a significant increase in antisemitic incidents recently,” Lieberman said, citing reports of vandalism, harassment, and hate speech targeting Jewish community members.

Lieberman said members of the Jewish community are feeling a sense of unease and are hesitant to express their Judaism in public.

Winnipeg Muslims are also feeling a disconnect.

“Many Canadians may not realize how Islamophobia has become normalized,” said Tasneem Vali of the Manitoba Islamic Association. In addition to hateful words and actions, this includes comments about women who wear hijabs that are couched as jokes, she said.

People “are now conditioned to think these are ‘jokes,’ but they are anti-Muslim behaviour and microaggressions that have been normalized,” Vali said.

While the survey shows many Canadians feel Islamophobia isn’t a concern, “in reality, for us racism is on the rise, even if it is sometimes subtle. It is still omnipresent,” she said.

Belle Jarniewski, executive director of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada, says antisemitic behaviour has been seen on some Canadian university campuses and in some Manitoba high schools where Jewish students have been “singled out, bullied, and even hurt.”

Added Gustavo Zentner, vice president for Manitoba and Saskatchewan for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs: “There is abundant evidence that antisemitism is growing at almost unprecedented rates in Canada, also following a similar trend across the U.S and Europe.”

Sadaf Ahmed, a Winnipegger working on her PhD on contemporary Islam in Canada at the University of Toronto says the poll results are concerning, adding the war in Gaza is leading to an “ongoing dehumanization of Palestinians and Muslims.”

The poll also found women are more likely than men to describe both Islamophobia and antisemitism as a significant problem, and a majority of all likely voters for the Conservative Party of Canada, Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois believe antisemitism is a significant concern in Canada.

That is not the case for Islamophobia, however. While a majority of those who are likely to vote for the Liberals, NDP and Bloc see it as a problem, 59 per cent of those who are likely to vote for the Conservatives think Islamophobia is a minor problem or not a problem at all.

[email protected]

The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba. If you appreciate that coverage, help us do more! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow us to deepen our reporting about faith in the province. Thanks! BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER