Former antisemitism envoy warns abolition could make Canadian Jews less safe

Irwin Cotler warned that abolishing Canada's antisemitism envoy could make Jewish Canadians less safe, and the federal government announced it will replace the envoy posts with an advisory council on rights, equality and inclusion.

The federal government has announced it will end the special envoy posts on antisemitism and Islamophobia and create an advisory council on rights, equality and inclusion. Irwin Cotler, who served as Canada’s first antisemitism envoy, criticized the decision and said it was ill-advised at a time of rising antisemitism and Holocaust denial. The antisemitism envoy role has been vacant since July, and Heritage Department officials said details of the transition will be worked out in the coming weeks. The new advisory council will be overseen by Identity Minister Marc Miller. Key points: - The government announced the abolition of the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism and the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, to be replaced by an advisory council. - Irwin Cotler said removing the dedicated antisemitism envoy risks marginalizing the specificity of anti-Jewish hatred and could make Jews feel and be less safe. - The antisemitism envoy post has been vacant since July and officials said transition details will be determined in the coming weeks; the council will be overseen by Minister Marc Miller. Summary: Irwin Cotler has urged the government to revisit the decision, arguing the dedicated envoy role provided focused international and domestic engagement on antisemitism. The government says its commitment to preserving Holocaust remembrance and combatting antisemitism is unchanged and will proceed with the advisory council; details of the transition are to be worked out in the coming weeks.