Advocacy @HBT: Success in court & action from our government

Advocacy victory in court / the Prime Minister must act!  

• Court Rules in UJA’s favour after targeted discrimination
• CIJA calls on the Prime Minister to act

One year ago, in December 2023, the Jewish community gathered in Ottawa to rally against antisemitism. Like many in Toronto, our group arrived at the Promenade Mall before dawn, waiting for a bus that would take us to Ottawa. Holy Blossom’s Bus 32 was one of the 17 buses that did not show up on the morning of the rally. While our members found their way to Ottawa in other ways, we knew that this was a clear and targeted act of discrimination against the Jewish community. UJA knew it too and took legal action. This week, UJA reports that the court has issued a judgment against the bus company to pay back what is owed. Our own Eli Mogil, providing his legal services pro-bono, was instrumental in this victory. 

Our advocacy matters. Our personal skills, talents, connections, and professional expertise matter. The Advocacy Committee will soon announce a new programme to help you utilize your network, skills, and resources to be a more effective advocate for our community.    

Once again, this week CIJA calls on the Prime Minister and high-ranking ministers in public safety and justice to act against radicalization and hate crimes in Canada. CIJA has four asks for the federal government, in the hope that their implementation will reduce the staggering rate of antisemitic acts in Canada. You can learn more about their proposal here, and add your voice to the chorus that says the government needs to act now! 

Learn more about Advocacy@HBT here.