October 7: Two years ago today, families were preparing to observe a joyful Jewish holiday, and hundreds of young music lovers were gathering at a peaceful festival when the terrorist organization Hamas launched a heinous attack against Israeli civilians.
It was the deadliest assault on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Nearly 1,200 people were murdered, and more than 200 were taken hostage — 48 of whom remain in captivity.
Jewish people everywhere, including in Canada, continue to live with a profound sense of grief and anxiety. We remember all those who were brutally murdered on October 7, including Canadians Vivian Silver, Netta Epstein, Alexandre Look, Judih Weinstein, Shir Georgy, Ben Mizrachi, and Adi Vital-Kaploun, as well as others with close ties to Canada, such as Tiferet Lapidot. May their memories be a blessing.
On this day and every day, we stand with the victims, their families, and their communities, who continue to carry unimaginable grief.
Canada condemns Hamas — a terrorist group that must play no role in the future governance of a demilitarized Palestinian state. We urge all parties to immediately work to turn Hamas’ commitment to release all hostages into reality and to negotiate lasting peace.
Canada has committed more than $400 million in assistance to the West Bank and Gaza and supports the large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid into the region. We continue to coordinate with international partners to build a just and enduring peace — one that can only be achieved through a comprehensive two-state solution.
Over the past two years, Jewish Canadians and Jewish communities worldwide have faced a devastating resurgence of antisemitism — synagogues and schools attacked, people harassed for their faith, and efforts made to diminish or deny the horror of October 7. These acts betray Canadian values and threaten the right of every Canadian to live with dignity and security.
Canada condemns antisemitism in all its forms. Earlier this fall, our government introduced legislation — Bill C-9 — with strengthened provisions to address hate crimes, protect religious and cultural institutions, and prohibit the display of terrorist symbols. The bill also makes it a criminal offence to intentionally and willfully obstruct access to places of worship, schools, and community centres.
To support these efforts, the government is providing targeted funding to provinces to train law enforcement officers and Crown prosecutors, enhancing their ability to protect communities at risk and enforce hate crime laws effectively.
Over the coming week, Jewish Canadians will gather in their sukkah to celebrate resilience and faith. In solidarity, Canadians must renew our commitment to ensuring that Jewish people can always live safely, openly, and freely in this country.”