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Toronto (March 29, 2023) – Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) welcomes the proposed investments the Government of Canada announced in its latest budget to combat hate and discrimination, including increased funding for a security program to protect community institutions such as synagogues and Jewish day schools and community centres.

In its 2023 federal budget released yesterday, the Canadian government listed a series of investments it is proposing to fight systemic racism, discrimination and hate, including: $49.5 million over five years to enhance and expand the Security Infrastructure Program to better address security needs of communities; an additional $25.4 million over five years, and $0.6 million ongoing, to support Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy to fight all forms of racism, including antisemitism; and $1.5 million over two years to create a new Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion Secretariat to “ensure that considerations of anti-racism, equity and inclusion are applied in the development of federal government policies.”

“We appreciate the Canadian government’s proposed investments to increase security for the Jewish community and other groups, as well as to further combat antisemitism and other forms of hate,” said FSWC President and CEO Michael Levitt. “Now more than ever, Jewish people in Canada require the support of government officials and other allies to confront the concerning rise in Jew-hatred across the country and help ensure their safety and security.”