On October 19, 2026, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) issued the following statement on X:
After significant community concern and advocacy, including much engagement by many Canadians, including NCCM, the Government of Canada has clarified in a response letter that anti-Zionism is not inherently antisemitic, reaffirming Canadians’ right to engage in open, respectful, and lawful debate about Israel, its government policies, and any political ideology.
In its response to NCCM on October 16th, the Minister of Public Safety reaffirmed that the Report is not intended to suggest that all criticism of Zionism or Israel is antisemitic, nor to limit or discourage lawful political expression and public debate.
While this clarification is a step in the right direction, many in our community remain concerned about the IHRA definition and how it may be applied in practice to chill legitimate political speech, even though the federal government states that it is non-prescriptive guidance and does not restrict Charter-protected freedoms.
Many Canadians have lost their jobs for innocuous statements critiquing Israel. We’ve taken many of these cases to court to protect their rights and have won.We will continue to advocate for the protection of civil liberties, freedom of expression, and the right of all Canadians to engage in legitimate political debate without fear of having their views unfairly characterized.
NCCM attached the following document
Document from the Minister of Public Safety Canada attached to NCCM’s post:
Minister of Public Safety
Ministre de la Sécurité publique
Ottawa, Canada K1A 0P8
October 16, 2026
Fatema Abdalla
Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy Officer
NCCM – National Council of Canadian Muslims
fabdalla@nccm.ca
Dear Fatema Abdalla:
Thank you for your correspondence of September 29, 2026, regarding the National Commitments to Combat Antisemitism Progress Report and its discussion of anti-Zionism and antisemitism. I appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns.
I would like to reassure you that Canada’s position has not changed. Canada continues to support open, respectful, and lawful debate on issues related to Israel, Palestine, the Middle East, and international affairs. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism (or IHRA Definition) explicitly recognizes that criticism of Israel, similar to that levelled against any other country, is not in itself antisemitic.
Canada adopted the IHRA Definition in 2019 as part of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy and continues to be used in Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy (2024-2028). The Canadian Handbook on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism was published by the Department of Canadian Heritage in 2024 as non-prescriptive guidance for how the IHRA Definition can be practically used.
In the Progress Report, the reference to anti-Zionism reflects the understanding contained within the IHRA Definition and the Canadian Handbook, including recognition that denying the Jewish people the right to self-determination may, depending on the context, be considered a manifestation of antisemitism. The report was not, and is not, intended to suggest that all criticism of Zionism, Israeli government policies, or the State of Israel is antisemitic, nor is it intended to limit or discourage lawful political expression or public debate.
The IHRA Definition has informed educational and awareness-building efforts in a variety of sectors, including some law enforcement contexts. Decisions regarding police training and operational practices are often made by individual police services or provincial and territorial authorities as this is under their jurisdiction and the Government of Canada does not direct or oversee all such activities across the country.
The IHRA Definition does not create criminal offences, establish legal prohibitions, or restrict Charter-protected freedoms, including freedom of expression. Rather, it serves as a tool to help identify, understand, and respond to antisemitism and anti-Jewish hatred in its various forms. Its application does not alter existing rights, laws, policies, or protections afforded to Canadians.
Again, our Government’s position remains unchanged. The purpose of referencing the IHRA Definition as outlined in the Canadian Handbook in the Progress Report was to support public awareness and understanding of antisemitism, consistent with Canada’s longstanding commitment to combatting hate and discrimination while protecting fundamental rights and freedoms.
Thank you again for writing to me to seek clarification on this extremely important issue.
Yours sincerely,
The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, P.C., K.C., M.P.
Minister of Public Safety Canada