Position Statements

To the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada I write to you today on behalf of Independent Jewish Voices, a national Jewish organization with chapters across Canada […]

A U.S. jury has sentenced to death the gunman who killed eleven worshippers at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in 2018. When Robert Bowers entered the synagogue, he yelled, “All […]

Last Wednesday, June 28, a gender studies class at the University of Waterloo was targeted in an apparent hate crime that left a professor and two students injured. This was […]

Israeli forces have “pulled out” of their recent incursion into the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, leaving at least 12 Palestinians dead, including 5 teenagers, as well as […]

May 15th marks the 75 anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic). Nakba Day is observed in Palestine and around the world to commemorate the displacement of hundreds of […]

Dear Members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, As you are aware, there is a motion put forward by MP Heather McPherson that may soon be […]

Joint statement from Independent Jewish Voices Canada and l’Union Juive Française pour la Paix (UJFP) For a second time in a decade, France is seeking to extradite Dr. Hassan Diab […]

On Monday, after weeks of mass protests, Israeli PM Benyamin Netanyahu finally announced that he would be pausing his far-right government’s controversial plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary.  In order […]

Mohammed Alzaza was a 15-year-old Palestinian teenager in Gaza when he and his 12-year-old cousin were hit by an Israeli drone strike while playing on the beach in August, 2011.  […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada is calling for immediate action by the Canadian government in response to yesterday’s comments by a senior Israeli minister that the Palestinian town of Huwara should […]

Dear fellow Canadian Jews, It is with sadness – but not surprise – that we watch in real time as the state of Israel moves to gut its judiciary. In […]

Independent Jewish Voices condemns the Canadian government’s confirmation today that Canadian Heritage grantees must attest to the IHRA definition of antisemitism in order to receive or keep their funding. These […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) stands with Ontario MPP for Ottawa-Centre Joel Harden, who recently came under fire from pro-Israel lobby groups and the Jewish Federation of Ottawa for comments […]

Dear Mayor Sim and Members of Council, Let’s fight antisemitism together! Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Canada is an organization dedicated to the pursuit of social justice for all. In particular, […]

October 13, 2022 Hon. Ahmed Hussen Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Youth Dear Minister: I write to you today on behalf of Independent Jewish Voices, a national Jewish organization with […]

On this second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) recognizes this day’s vital importance as a moment of remembrance and reckoning throughout Canada. We honour the […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) commends trustees of the York Region District School Board (YRDSB – Ontario’s third largest school board) for heeding the concerns of anti-racist parents and community […]

A few members of Independent Jewish Voices Vancouver attended a mayoral town hall event September 7th at Temple Sholom hosted by the pro-Israel lobby group CIJA (Centre for Israel and […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) commends a recent strong shift in the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) which has seen it publicly making bolder calls for justice and peace in […]

We, member groups of the International Jewish Collective for Justice in Palestine, are filled with sorrow and outrage at Israel’s unprovoked aerial bombardment of the community of Gaza, Palestine. We […]

On June 13th of 2022, our National Coordinator Corey Balsam was invited to speak to Canadian parliamentarians at an event hosted by the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group. Below, we reproduce […]

The following is an open letter sent on behalf to Independent Jewish Voices Montreal (IJV) to the McGill University administration on April 7, 2022. Dear Suzanne Fortier (Principal and Vice-Chancellor) […]

Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Canada joins with millions of people around the world in calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We also […]

On January 11, several groups of Canadian rabbis issued a statement regarding the United Church 2022 General Council discussions on the church’s policy positions on antisemitism, Israel and Palestine. Those […]

Independent Jewish Voices-Toronto congratulates the hundreds of courageous students at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute for staging a walk-out and demonstration on Friday, November 12th, in protest of anti-Palestinian racism and […]

Subject: Joint submission re: Online harms legislation To whom it may concern, As organizations and individuals with expertise in anti-racism, we are profoundly concerned by the government’s proposed “online harms” […]

Dear Ms. Russell-Rawlins, Ms. Kelman, Mr. Spyropoulos and Ms. Spence, It takes real courage to stand up for freedom and justice when you know that you will be attacked in […]

September 30, 2021 Statement from Independent Jewish Voices – York Re: Antisemitism training by Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) for members of the York Federation of Students (YFS). On Monday, September […]

Well, here we are at the end of another Canadian federal election. We’ve emerged from a highly unpopular election campaign in the middle of a global pandemic with largely the […]

As Jews who believe in social justice for everyone, Independent Jewish Voices Toronto (IJV) supports Javier Davila, one of eight equity advisors with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Recently, Davila […]

June 21st marks National Indigenous People’s Day in Canada. It is a day to celebrate the cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across these lands. However, […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) denounces the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) for unilaterally adopting the extremely divisive and widely rejected IHRA definition of antisemitism in Quebec yesterday. Benoit Charette, Quebec’s […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) congratulates a group of Toronto artists for calling on the Koffler Centre of the Arts to live up to its new “social justice” mandate by […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) and the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association (ACLA) are disappointed but not surprised by the outcome of the Canadian Judicial Council’s (CJC) review of the conduct […]

Dear Mayor John Tory and Premier Doug Ford. In the wake of a large rally protesting Israeli aggression and violence against Palestinians attended by  well over 10,000 people in Nathan […]

Canada’s three political Jewish establishment groups would have us believe that Canadian Jews stand behind the recent Israeli aggression in Gaza and the West Bank. But the truth is quite […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada is standing with Palestinians around the world to mark Nakba Day on May 15th. Nakba (Arabic for “catastrophe”) Day is observed in Palestine and around the […]

We are writing today to call on the University of Toronto and its Faculty of Law to reinstate immediately the offer to Dr. Valentina Azarova to serve as the next […]

The Honourable David LamettiMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada The Honourable Steven GuilbeaultMinister of Canadian Heritage Dear Ministers Lametti and Guilbeault, As organizations committed to the defence of […]

We believe in a world where we are all safe and cherished—a world without racism, without antisemitism, and without Islamophobia. As fascist, racist, and authoritarian governments and political parties increasingly […]

Since its inception 120 years ago, the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (JNF-KKL) has been one of the main engines for the colonization of Palestinian lands. It owns 13% of […]

In March, 27 Montreal-based anti-racist organizations sent an open letter to Mayor Valérie Plante and Montreal’s city council, demanding they take a stance against the dangerously misleading International Holocaust Remembrance […]

This open letter was written by the International Jewish Collective for Justice in Palestine (IJCJP) in response to a virtual conference of mayors which claims to be convened with the […]

(Vaughn, Ontario City Hall. Image: Mhsheikholeslami, CC BY-SA 4.0) A controversy has erupted around the renaming of a school in York Region north of Toronto that threatens to pit members […]

[“Kingston Onatrio ~ Canada ~ Queens University ~ Ontarion Hall ~ Heritage ~ Historic” by Onasill ~ Bill – 80M Views is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0] Independent Jewish Voices – Kingston Statement It […]

Independent Jewish Voices is calling for immediate action by the Canadian government after a French court ruled on January 27th, 2021, to proceed to trial in the case of Canadian […]

Several IJV chapters helped to organize or attended vigils across the country on Friday to mark the 4th anniversary of the Quebec City mosque shooting. Below is the text of […]

[CDN-NDG borough mayor Sue Montgomery. Photo: Sarah Mongeau-Birkett, La Presse] On January 27th, in a special council meeting, the Montreal borough of Côte-des-Neiges – Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN-NDG) moved on very short […]

(A Palestinian youth wearing a face mask rides his bicycle past a mural painting of a nurse injecting a vaccine to a COVID-19 virus in Gaza City, on 31 December […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 2020 Jews Across the Globe Applaud Statement by Palestinian and Arab Academics, Journalists, and Intellectuals We, Jewish groups and individuals from across the globe, applaud the […]

On October 26th, 2020, the Government of Ontario unilaterally adopted the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism (IHRA-WDA) by means of Order in Council 1450/2020. This move […]

On August 14, 2020, Independent Jewish Voices Canada was invited to participate in a roundtable of Jewish organizations to discuss how the federal Ministry of Justice can go about combating […]

STOP THE POGROMS AGAINST THE MI’KMAQ  On September 29, Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) expressed our support for the Mi’kmaq people and the Sipekne’katik First Nation currently engaged in a standoff […]

Unknown individuals are placing unattributed adhesive stickers around Halifax that promote conspiracy theories and foment hatred toward vulnerable groups, especially using COVID-19 as a starting point.  Independent Jewish Voices condemns […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) affirms our support for the Mi’kmaq people and the Sipekne’katik First Nation who are currently engaged in a standoff in Nova Scotia to affirm their […]

The new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, and potentially Canada’s next prime minister, will likely be a disaster for human rights in Israel-Palestine. Erin O’Toole won the vote […]

The following open letter was written by Dan Freeman-Maloy, an IJV member and academic researcher originally from Barrie, Ontario, in response to news that Barrie City Council would be considering […]

Independent Jewish Voices has joined a coalition of Montreal-based unions, academics, artists, and community groups calling for an end to Netanyahu’s illegal annexation plan in the occupied West Bank, as […]

July 14, 2020 In early July, the Jewish Defense League (JDL), a group identified as a “proscribed  terrorist group” by the FBI, unleashed a campaign of intimidation against Foodbenders, a […]

We are two rabbis and other members of the Hamilton, Ontario, Jewish community who call on the religious institutions of our community to take the clear moral stand of opposing […]

Last week several Asian-Canadian community organizations set up a website www.covidracism.ca to spotlight an uptick of racist  incidents against Asian-Canadians amid the COVID-19 crisis. Independent Jewish Voices reaches out to […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada stands in solidarity with everyone taking part in Black Lives Matter demonstrations against police brutality in cities around the world right now. We join our voices […]

May 15, 2020 – Today, Independent Jewish Voices Canada is standing with Palestinians around the world to mark Nakba Day. Nakba (Arabic for “catastrophe”) Day is observed in Palestine and […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada is calling on the Canadian government and civil society to put the utmost pressure on Israel to end its siege on the Gaza Strip and alleviate […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) strongly denounces the Canadian government’s shameful attempt to thwart justice in Israel-Palestine by urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to let Israel off the hook […]

Toronto, March 6, 2020 Three Canadian justice-seeking organizations will combine efforts on Saturday at the Ontario NDP Provincial Council to voice strong opposition to Bill 168, which aims to officially […]

(Image: Jason Kuhrt, Imaging Apartheid) Independent Jewish Voices Canada is deeply dismayed and concerned with the Ontario Government’s decision to unanimously approve Bill 168, the Combating Antisemitism Act, on its […]

UPDATED: Over 650 Canadian academics have now signed on to an open letter opposing the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Our letter, and the signatories, are below. […]

(Photo credit: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters) Independent Jewish Voices Canada is shocked and horrified by the February 20 attack by a gunman on two shisha bars in the German town of Hanau, […]

On January 28, 2020, US President Donald Trump unveiled his “peace” plan for Israel-Palestine alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Notably absent alongside these two embattled leaders, fighting to hang […]

Independent Jewish Voices stands in firm and uncompromising solidarity with the people and the Hereditary Chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en nation in their struggle to defend their land against Coastal GasLink […]

On December 10, the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission conferred its Individual Human Rights Award upon Halifax social activist Rana Zaman, citing Zaman’s “desire to see unity and solidarity amongst […]

Independent Jewish Voices Canada unequivocally supports courageous Palestinian students and their allies who showed up en masse at York University in Toronto on November 20th to protest a planned presentation […]

October 22, 2019 You’ve seen the results by now: Liberal minority government with the NDP holding the balance of power. This could be a good thing for progressives, especially on […]

The following letter has been sent to Minister of Justice and Attorney General David Lametti, urging him not to appeal the recent Federal Court ruling on wines originating from illegal […]

August 6, 2019 On Saturday, July 27, Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Montreal participated in a counter-protest in Trois-Rivières, Québec, against a new white supremacist umbrella group, la Vague Bleue*. Violent […]

IJV Canada Statement on Rana Zaman June 27, 2019 The federal New Democratic Party has removed noted Halifax activist Rana Zaman from the party’s candidacy in the Dartmouth – Cole […]

June 13, 2019 There is no doubt that antisemitism is a growing threat. The recent murderous attacks on Jews in Pittsburgh and San Diego are proof that hatred of Jews […]

An open letter to the Toronto Jewish Community regarding the UJA Walk with Israel On Monday, May 20, members of the Toronto Jewish community will participate in the annual Walk […]

Sorry* Not Sorry – Unapologetically Working for Social Justice Such is the title of an event being hosted by the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg and the Canadian Muslim Women’s […]

With Bibi almost sure to win, it’s time to ramp up the pressure Although the final results have yet to come in and the new coalition has yet to be […]

March 29, 2019 Every March 30, Palestinians commemorate Land Day, the anniversary of a 1976 general strike against Israeli land expropriation by Palestinian citizens of Israel. Israeli police killed six […]

March 15, 2019 In the wake of the devastating white supremacist and Islamophobic shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, Independent Jewish Voices would like to extend our heartfelt condolences and solidarity […]

13 March 2019 TORONTO–Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) and the United Jewish People’s Order (UJPO) welcome the findings of a survey of Jewish Canadians published yesterday by the Environics Institute. […]

November 7, 2018 Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is slated to deliver an official apology for the Canadian government’s role in turning back the MS St. Louis. The ship, which […]

Pro-Israel lobby groups B’nai Brith Canada and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) have once again levied the charge of antisemitism at a Palestinian rights activist in what appears to be an attempt to tarnish his reputation. Their latest target is lawyer and former Green Party Justice Critic Dimitri Lascaris.

Seventy years have passed since the state of Israel was established in Palestine. As a direct result, hundreds of Palestinian villages were destroyed, thousands were killed and and hundreds of […]

April 17, 2018 Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) applauds statements released by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May regarding the ongoing crisis in Gaza. In a […]

[Version française] IJV Statement on the One Year Anniversary of the Quebec Mosque Shooting The terrible murder of six Muslim men of Quebec City, one year ago today, demands that […]

One important aspect of the Charlottesville racist events is the brazen inclusion of the Jews as targets for white supremacist wrath. Scenes of Nazis marching with firebrands chanting “The Jews […]

We of Independent Jewish Voices – Canada extend heartfelt greetings to and solidarity with Idle No More. We are Jewish Canadians of diverse backgrounds who share a strong commitment to […]