Fact Sheet

May 26, 2016 - The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) plenary – of which Canada is a member – adopted a working definition of antisemitism and list of illustrative examples.

Feb 15, 2018 - CIJA releases a policy briefing on the IHRA definition of antisemitism urging all three levels of government to adopt or refer to the IHRA definition for the purposes of countering antisemitism in Canadian society.

June 25, 2019 - The definition of antisemitism was included as part of the Canadian government’s new anti-racism strategy, announced by Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, in a list of terminology toward the end of the document.

July 25, 2019 - Vancouver City Council motion to adopt the IHRA-WDA was rejected.

Nov 18, 2019 - Calgary City Council motion to adopt the IHRA-WDA was rejected.

Dec 11, 2019 - Bill 168 Combating Antisemitism Act was introduced for first reading at the Ontario Legislature and passed. 

Jan 28, 2020 - Montreal City Council motion to adopt the IHRA-WDA  was withdrawn.

Jan 28, 2020 - Vaughan City Council unanimously passed a resolution proclaiming January 27 to be Holocaust Remembrance Day in the City of Vaughan and adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.

Feb 03, 2020 - Westmount City Council unanimously adopted a working definition of antisemitism, based on that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

Feb 27, 2020 - Bill 168 Combating Antisemitism Act passed its second reading and now is referred to the standing committee on Justice Policy. There is one last reading afterwards or else this can become law in Ontario.

Mar 2, 2020 - The town council of Hampstead, Que., unanimously adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism.

Mar 16, 2020 - Côte St-Luc Council adopted a working definition of antisemitism, based on that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

April 30, 2020 - York Regional Council motion to adopt the IHRA definition of Antisemitism was passed. See written communication from Mayor and CIJA.

Aug 10, 2020 - The mayor of Barrie, Ontario, Jeff Lehman, has withdrawn a resolution to adopt the IHRA redefinition of antisemitism he put forward on Aug 05, 2020.

Recommendations

• Legal base document to refute the legality of Ontario Legislative Bill 168 
• Publish a paper of the origin of Zionism to show how it fundamentally conflicts with our Canadian Charter. (What is Zionism?)
• Review Anti-racism strategy for project funding opportunities.
  

Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy 2019–2022 is “a $45 million investment that will take immediate steps in combatting racism and discrimination based on what was heard during the engagement process and supported by research.”

Feb 26, 2020 - CIJA releases a press release on anti-semitic hate crimes statistics in Canada.

MPP Will Bouma introduced the Combating Antisemitism Act, 2019 for first reading at the Ontario Legislature. The Bill requires the Government of Ontario shall be guided by International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition antisemitism and the list of illustrative examples when it interprets Acts, regulations and policies designed to protect Ontarians from discrimination and hate amounting to antisemitism.

Dec 11, 2019 - CIJA releases a press release to applaud efforts of introducing the Bill.

Feb 27, 2020 - CIJA releases a press release to applaud efforts of receiving unanimous support of the Ontario Legislature at second reading.

July 7, 2020 - CIJA releases a media analysis to highlight Foodbenders antisemitism.

July 8, 2020 - CIJA releases a media analysis to highlight Mississauga protest antisemitism.

July 25, 2019 - Vancouver City Council motion to adopt the IHRA-WDA was rejected.

Nov 18, 2019 - Calgary City Council motion to adopt the IHRA-WDA was rejected.

Jan 28, 2020 - Montreal City Council motion to adopt the IHRA-WDA  was withdrawn.

Jan 28, 2020 - Vaughan City Council unanimously passed a resolution proclaiming January 27 to be Holocaust Remembrance Day in the City of Vaughan and adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.

Feb 03, 2020 - Westmount City Council unanimously adopted a working definition of antisemitism, based on that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

Mar 2, 2020 - The town council of Hampstead, Que., unanimously adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism.

Mar 16, 2020 - Côte St-Luc Council adopted a working definition of antisemitism, based on that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

April 30, 2020 - York Regional Council motion to adopt the IHRA definition of Antisemitism was passed. See written communication from Mayor and CIJA.

Aug 10, 2020 - The mayor of Barrie, Ontario, Jeff Lehman, has withdrawn a resolution to adopt the IHRA redefinition of antisemitism he put forward on Aug 05, 2020. (see IJV Campaign)

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism (IHRA-WDA) consists of two parts: 1) definition and 2) examples list of antisemitism. 

The definition itself is unobjectionable, but the problem is that the definition and the examples are always lumped together including in the Ontario proposal legislation (Bill 168). The definition without the examples is vague, imprecise, reflects nothing objectionable and proposes nothing that the society does not agree on. The definition also includes a caution stressing that it was only a “working definition,” and “non-legally binding.” 

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

The examples cast the net far too wide, they move from protecting Jewish people living as minorities to trying to protect a state that is well armed, militaristic in nature and that should be held to the standard that every other state should be held to. Seven of the eleven examples listed focus on Israel.

The effect of this casts a net way too wide that brings people who are not antisemetic and pardon with that smear, and puts them under the same tent as white nationalists and neonazis. By expanding the definition of Antisemitism to include the State of Israel, they increase unwarranted government suspicion, surveillance, and investigation into the lives of Muslims and Arabs in Ontario as well as others – including many Jews – who advocate for Palestinian human rights. As a result, this bill may actually encourage Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. Instead of offering constructive solutions to counter the disturbing rise in discrimination and bigotry that has been documented in recent months, this bill will compound the problem while trampling on Constitutional rights.

In addition to the chilling effect...

The definition of Antisemitism was authored by American attorney Kenneth Stern as a discussion paper and ad hoc guide for researchers and statisticians. In 2016, The IHRA adopted Stern’s definition quickly. It was subsequently picked up by the government of Israel and other Zionist organizations because it was a handy cudgel — with the imprimatur of the IHRA, an organization whose mandate is Holocaust education and memorialization — with which to beat back criticism of Israel, anti-Zionist and Palestinian rights discourses, and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Even Kenneth Stern has strongly opposed its use as a legal or administrative definition of antisemitism. He has warned that such a use will be a threat to both academic freedom and freedom of expression in general. In 2017 Stern testified before the House Judiciary Committee against legislation that would have used a definition of antisemitism, of which he was the lead drafter, as a de facto hate speech code on campus.

Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) released Critique on IHRA-WDA highlighting the following:

“CIJA states in its own press releases that adoption of the IHRA-WDA is part of its campaign to fight the “new antisemitism” wherein Zionism is an essential and core Jewish tenet, and trenchant critiques of Israeli policies are motivated by antisemitism rather than a legitimate concern for Palestinians or for human rights.”

Research Self determination vs statehood

Research Hate speech Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46) -> 319 (2) 

Research Zionism vs Jewish Supremacy in the holy land

• Nation State Law
• The suppression of Palestinian Human Rights 

Research Palestine Basic Law

Research Palestine Legal Work

Research Special Rapporteur on IHRA

New Anti-semitism

3D test of antisemitism

Working Definition of Antisemitism

• connecting some criticism of Israel and zionism with antisemitism.
• High-profile controversies took place in the United Kingdom in 2011 within the University and College Union[19][20] and within the Labour Party in 2018.
• The definition has been contested by scholars of antisemitism for conflating antisemitism with criticism of the Israeli government, obstructing campaigning for the rights of Palestinians and being so vague as to fail the test of any definition – to be definitive.
• These include Brian Klug,[21] David Feldman,[22] and Antony Lerman;[15] jurists including Hugh Tomlinson,[23] Stephen Sedley,[24] Geoffrey Bindman,[25] and Geoffrey Robertson;[26] and one of the original drafters Kenneth S. Stern has opposed the misuse of the definition to suppress and limit free speech.[27]
• Kenneth L. Marcus (17 July 2015). The Definition of Anti-Semitism. Oxford University Press. pp. 161–. ISBN 978-0-19-937565-3.
• ^ Janner-Klausner, Laura; Bindman, Geoffrey; Rose, Jacqueline; Kahn-Harris, Keith; Sedley, Stephen (27 July 2018). "How should antisemitism be defined? – The Panel". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
• CFE VIRTUAL FORUM SERIES: FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM OR SILENCING CRITICS OF ISRAEL: WHAT’S BEHIND THE PUSH FOR GOVERNMENTS TO ADOPT THE IHRA DEFINITION OF ANTI-SEMITISM
• Effects of this Socially non legally binding definition adoption beyond legal arguments:
  • Example: Achille Mbembe accused of anti-Semitism in Germany
  • Chilling effect:
    • Example: Academic freedom in 2018 in the University of Winnipeg
    • Example: Trump’s executive order on combating antisemitism 2019 where 6 cases against SJP in university
    • Example: Bicycle ride in the UK was shut down because it was against the IHRA definition
    • Example: Jewish Voice for Peace group in germany bank account was shut down
    • Jewish professors spoke about how Anti-Semitism bill would suppress open discussion on Israel
    • Ken Stern on US Article: Opinion | Will Campus Criticism of Israel Violate Federal Law?