2022 Federal Budget is historic for Canada’s Jewish Community

By CIJA

(Ottawa, ON) – On April 7, 2022, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, released Budget 2022: A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable, which builds upon the December Economic and Fiscal Update 2021. In the budget, the federal government announced a commitment of more than $70M toward priority initiatives for Canada’s Jewish community.

Funding has been allocated to support important Jewish community priorities including the redevelopment of Vancouver’s Jewish Community Centre, the relocation and expansion of the Montreal Holocaust Museum, and new funding toward Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism.

“This is an important budget for Canada’s Jewish community,” said Shimon Koffler Fogel, President and CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. “The federal government has listened and responded to many of our requests. We are gratified to see significant investment in Holocaust education and commemoration in Toronto and Montreal, where sizable investments are being made to build Holocaust museums and education centres. We are also thankful to see investment in the construction of a new Jewish community centre in Vancouver, an important hub of Jewish life, the benefits of which will be enjoyed beyond the Jewish community.”

“Antisemitism is on the rise globally. We have been calling for increased investment in the office of the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism and were pleased to see more than $5.6M invested in this important initiative over the next five years.”

“The Government of Canada committed to fighting antisemitism. They have translated that commitment into funding for meaningful initiatives to combat antisemitism to the benefit of all Canadians.”

Marquee budget items that address Jewish community priorities are: 

• The Montreal Holocaust Museum relocation and expansion project: $20M
• The Vancouver Jewish Community Centre redevelopment project: the government has committed to entirely fulfil the Vancouver Jewish Community Centre’s funding request
• The Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre in Toronto: $2.5M (announced prior to the budget)
• Resources for the Office of the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism: $5.6M over five years
• Prohibiting the Promotion of Antisemitism: Amending the Criminal Code to prohibit the communication of statements that willfully promote antisemitism by condoning, denying, or downplaying the Holocaust