A controversial plan to combat antisemitism is endorsed by some Montreal politicians—but Quebec rejects idea of armed guards during times like these

Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa.

A group of Montreal politicians from three levels of government has signed on to an “action plan” to combat antisemitism, but its most controversial recommendation of allowing Jewish gathering places to hire armed security guards was quickly rejected by the Quebec government.

The group proposes that synagogues, Jewish schools and other community institutions be permitted to have guards trained in the use of firearms on their premises “during this emergency period” and that the government “set the rules under which such guns can be carried.” Off-duty or retired police officers are suggested as ideal hires.

In Quebec, only guards transporting money or other valuables in armored vehicles are allowed to carry firearms in public.

The province’s public security minister Francois Bonnardel issued the following statement: “There is no question of allowing security guards to carry weapons near schools and places of worship. It would set an important precedent to allow people other than police officers to carry weapons in public places. We understand the concerns of communities in the context of the tensions created by the (Israel-Hamas) conflict. In Quebec, police forces have a responsibility to ensure the safety of communities in this context, and they have our full confidence.”

The Montreal police department has also rejected once again the idea of off-duty officers serving as armed guards. The idea has been floated by some community members long before the Israel-Hamas war, in other times when Jews felt at high risk.

The group of elected officials describes the Action Plan on Combating Anti-Jewish Hate in Canada with a Focus on Quebec as a draft, and says a final version is forthcoming.

The signatories are Liberal Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, Liberal Members of the National Assembly Elisabeth Prass (D’Arcy McGee) and Michelle Setlakwe (Mont Royal-Outremont), mayors Mitchell Brownstein of Côte St. Luc, Jeremy Levi of Hampstead and Peter Malouf of Town of Mount Royal, and Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce borough councillors Stephanie Valenzuela and Sonny Moroz.

The mayor of Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce, Montreal’s most populous and the site of three shootings at Jewish schools and the firebombing of a Jewish community office in October and November, criticized the idea of armed guards. A synagogue and community centre in Dollard des Ormeaux were also targeted by Molotov cocktails in that period. No arrests have been made in these incidents.

Gracia Kasoki Katahwa posted on social media: “This proposal would set a dangerous precedent for our borough’s residents and all those that call Montreal home. We do not need to import American-style, gun-centred solutions here in our schools.”

The action plan states that “the string of attacks on Jewish institutions, Jewish businesses, and Jewish university students is an attempt to terrorize Jewish Canadians and prevent them from participating in everyday life. A coalition represented by people of goodwill must not merely denounce what is happening but must actively and publicly take concrete action to hold responsible those attacking our Jewish brothers and sisters.

“This problem of anti-Jewish hate is present in many areas of society and therefore requires many organizations to take action. We call on all levels of government, institutions, employers, and civil society to act decisively against antisemitic hate…

“Civil society must not only denounce violent words and acts but must demonstrate that those who seek to terrifyJewish Canadians will face real consequences.”

Besides allowing armed guards, the plan urges Quebec and other provincial governments to create an emergency fund to defray the cost of security at Jewish institutions and to provide additional resources for the policing of these places.

The plan’s endorsers also think provinces should “implement standards for university administrations to adopt policies on antisemitism on campus, measure to what degree the administration is creating a safe environment for students and impose penalties on those who do not do so.”

They urge Ottawa to “give guidance to provincial and municipal partners to have police enforce criminal law including when demonstrations cross the lines into hate speech,” as well as to work with university administrators to more effectively counter antisemitism on campus.

The group calls on Canadian universities to “discipline students who commit violent acts, intimidate fellow students or impede their ability to participate fully in student life” as part of a more aggressive response to ensuring the safety of Jewish students.

The Montreal elected officials want the immigration minister to use “whatever powers he has at his disposal to cancel visas—including student visas—for visitors to Canada who violate Canadian law.”

There are also recommendations to municipalities and police forces, among them that cities should require that all rallies are held in locations that do not disrupt residential life and businesses and that they not authorize events whose publicity “shows, advocates or glorifies violence.”

Police forces across the country should train officers to be able to readily recognize hate speech and incitement, and to intervene promptly when they do, it is further recommended.

On Jan. 10, the Montreal police department made public that, since Oct. 7, it had received 132 reports of hate crimes or hate incidents directed at the Jewish community.

Although no arrests in connection with them have been made by the city’s force, the RCMP announced on Jan. 10 that, following its investigation, a Montreal man has been charged with inciting hatred against Jews. Houssem Hammami, 37, is facing one count of incitement against an identifiable group for “violent” and “antisemitic” postings on social media between Oct. 14 and Nov. 1, the RCMP released on its social media account. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 30.

During a Dec. 7 video call organized by B’nai Brith Canada, Montreal police chief Fady Dagher said there had been a significant decrease in the number of incidents targeting the Jewish community since the force had increased its visibility around its institutions.

Dagher said the 7,600 officers had been assigned to protecting the community at an additional cost of close to $2 million.

The action plan was applauded by Marvin Rotrand, national director of B’nai Brith’s League for Human Rights, who thinks, with modification, the proposal for armed security guards may be acceptable to the Quebec government and others.

“While the focus of the document is on Quebec, the recommendations are largely applicable to every province. I believe that the other recommendations in the document are easily and relatively immediately applicable,” he said.