Canadian Criminal Law working group launches to combat antisemitic hate crimes

(CIJA) –  In an unprecedented collaboration, the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism (ALCCA), the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), and the Canadian Jewish Law Association (CJLA) have come together to form the Canadian Criminal Law Working Group, dedicated to addressing antisemitic hate crimes across the country.

Building on the foundation laid by ALCCA’s Criminal Law Committee, which has been deeply engaged in these efforts, and on CIJA’s Legal Task Force, the Working Group will bring together experienced criminal lawyers from across the country to provide legal expertise and support for victims to ensure hate-motivated offences are properly addressed under the law.

“The criminal justice system already provides powerful tools to combat hate crimes, but these tools are underutilized,” said Mark Sandler, Chair of ALCCA and Senior Advisor to the Working Group. “By uniting legal efforts, this Working Group will enhance our collective capacity to support victims, push for accountability, and ensure the law is applied effectively to protect Jewish Canadians and other targeted communities.”

“We recognize that not all offensive conduct is criminal and respect the fundamental rights of free speech and assembly,” said Mark Freiman, former Deputy Attorney General of Ontario and Co-Chair of CIJA’s Legal Task Force. “However, these rights must not be distorted to shield hate speech and hateful acts from accountability.”

Among the services and support provided for victims of antisemitic hate crimes, the Working Group will:

• Provide a network of senior criminal lawyers across Canada to assess allegations of antisemitic hate crimes and ensure appropriate cases are brought to the attention of authorities.

• Monitor hate crime charges and legal outcomes to identify enforcement trends and gaps.

• Educate members of the justice system and government officials about the legal tools available to combat hate, including criminal law, provincial legislation, and municipal bylaws.

• Teach community members how and when to report antisemitic hate crimes and, when necessary, assist individuals in securing legal representation.

“The rise in antisemitic incidents highlights the urgent need for stronger enforcement and legal accountability, making this collaboration essential,” said Joseph Neuberger, senior criminal lawyer and President of the CJLA. “By working together, our organizations will be better equipped to protect and support vulnerable members of our community. This Working Group will be instrumental in ensuring justice is served and that our communities remain safe.”

The Canadian Criminal Law Working Group will be chaired by Rochelle Direnfeld, ALCCA’s Senior Criminal Counsel and a former senior crown attorney with 32 years experience, including prosecuting and advising on hate crimes as a member of the Attorney General’s Hate Crime Working Group. “The Canadian Criminal Law Working Group’s legal experts are committed to ensuring criminal laws are applied judiciously – primarily against extremists – while recognizing that, in many cases, respectful dialogue and education are more effective in addressing ignorance, misinformation, and bias,” said Direnfeld.

In addition to Sandler, Direnfeld, Freiman, and Neuberger, and a cadre of experienced criminal lawyers, the Working Group’s leadership includes Richard Marceau, Vice President of External Affairs and General Counsel at CIJA; Sayeh Hassan, Staff Lawyer for CIJA’s LTF; and James Stocker, CIJA’s National Director of Community Security.

The Canadian Criminal Law Working Group will operate nationally, drawing on advocacy groups and community organizations to support its work. While its primary focus is combatting antisemitic hate crimes, the Working Group is committed to opposing all hate-motivated crimes under the Criminal Code that target identifiable groups.

For more information about the Canadian Criminal Law Working Group – or to request legal assistance or to volunteer legal expertise – contact: info@cclwg.ca.