Trudeau, Ford decry ‘despicable’ antisemitic acts at Jewish schools

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OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford decried the shootings in the past week at Toronto and Montreal Jewish schools and vowed to do everything in their power to catch and punish the perpetrators.

Trudeau started off his remarks Thursday morning at the grand opening of Sanofi’s $800-million vaccine manufacturing facility in Toronto by saying that, just a short drive away, parents were dropping off their daughters at a Jewish girls’ elementary school that was fired on by gunmen over the weekend.

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Another Jewish school in Montreal was also hit by at least one bullet Wednesday night.

“I’m, of course, relieved that no one was hurt. I’m disgusted by these vile and despicable acts of antisemitism. It needs to stop now,” said Trudeau.

“To Jewish parents and students across the country, we stand with you. We will always work to safeguard your right to live proudly Jewish lives in Canada.”

Trudeau said the federal government is working with local law enforcement and will use “all available federal resources to ensure that the perpetrators are held to account.”

“We cannot and will not let this antisemitism stand in Canada,” he added.

Ford said he agreed with Trudeau and promised that the province would “throw every single resource” to catch the perpetrators, and “throw them in jail, throw away the key.”

“Folks, let’s cut to the chase here. What lunatic goes around shooting up schools? That is just unacceptable. Imagine that. Imagine a little kid in a school because they’re from the Jewish faith, someone goes by and start shooting through the school windows?”

“These guys need to be caught. They need to be punished. They need to be thrown in jail, and I’ll tell you, we have zero tolerance for this anywhere in Ontario,” he said.

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Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya’ara Saks thanked Trudeau and Ford for their words of support and said that, as a Jewish MP, “allies matter.”

“As a Jewish mother in this community, we have the right to be safe and feel safe each and every day,” she said.

Trudeau and Ford weren’t forthcoming with concrete details when asked by a reporter what resources their governments would use to jail the perpetrators, given that politicians are not supposed to direct the police’s actions.

Trudeau pointed to his government’s Security Infrastructure Program, which provides support for communities at risk of hate-related crimes and incidents at places of worship and schools, but he said there is “much more to do.”

“The core thing that we have continued to call for is an end to hatred and intolerance in Canada, whether it be antisemitism or Islamophobia,” he said.

“We are seeing that events overseas that are devastating and incredibly difficult to watch should not be spilling over into Canadians hating on other Canadians. We are all united in our strength and diversity and our desire for a better country in a better world.”

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Ford said that Ontario “will throw every single resource of increased funding for the police” and has “given thousands of dollars to places of worship.”

And he had a clear message to potential newcomers to Canada.

“Don’t come to Canada if you’re going to start terrorizing neighbourhoods like this. Simple as that. You want to come to Canada? You want to be a resident of Ontario? You get along with everyone. I don’t care what background, what religion, what race you come from.”

Ford touted Ontario’s diverse population as its “number one selling tool around the world.”

“We have 110 nationalities here in Ontario, 200 languages being spoken, and guess what? Ninety-nine per cent of the people get along. There are wars going on all around the world. But we still get along,” he said. “Enough is enough. I’ve just had it up to here.”

“People outside those communities, they’ve had it too. They aren’t used to this happening here in Ontario. I’m done with this stuff.”

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said that the city has been conducting “safety walks” in collaboration with the police, local councillors and different communities. Chow said some places of worship or schools may consider putting up shatterproof glass, fencing or new lighting.

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Ford expressed shock at hearing that shatterproof glass might be necessary in Ontario schools. “We have to have this in Ontario schools, like, where have we gone? Again, we’re all just fed up with this nonsense. I’ll tell you that. It shouldn’t have to be that way.”

He said that he was not criticizing Chow, adding ” I love the mayor by the way.”

National Post
calevesque@postmedia.com

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