Canada has always been considered an extremely safe country for its Jewish community, says Pieter Dorsman, owner of a venture capital and technology investment advisory firm, speaking from Vancouver. Yet today, among Canadian Jews, there is outright bewilderment as “the new home for Holocaust survivors” now finds itself at the forefront of antisemitism. In this interview, Dorsman describes and analyses the growing sense of alienation many Jews now feel towards Canada.
In your post-election analysis of the April 28 Canadian federal election (“The Fear Election”), you predicted that after the Liberal Party’s victory, “the government’s negative stance towards Israel will persist, and the unchecked antisemitism on the streets will not be addressed in the foreseeable future.”
How does this negative stance from a Liberal Canadian cabinet manifest itself?
Pieter Dorsman: Trudeau, Carney’s predecessor, was one of the few Western leaders who didn’t visit Israel after October 7 and has always maintained an ambivalent attitude toward Israel and the war. Electoral considerations played a major role: as I mentioned in a previous interview, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly referred to demographic trends in her riding to explain why she didn’t want to take a pro-Israel position. In other words, a high number of Muslim immigrants.
Furthermore, the anti-Israel stance prevalent in progressive circles is a significant factor. Canada’s Liberals can best be compared to the Dutch party D66—a very distant attitude toward Israel, focusing solely on a two-state solution as the only path forward, and openly advocating for Israel to be brought before the International Court of Justice.
During the election campaign led by new Liberal leader Mark Carney, the Middle East received only minimal attention. He once misspoke about a potential boycott of Israel, and after that, said little else on the topic. It was a tight race, with every vote counting. The Liberals had to win centrist votes while avoiding losses on the left, so Carney often took a middle-of-the-road approach—or remained silent.
How is antisemitism currently manifesting itself in Canada’s public space?
Dorsman: We’re seeing protests (especially in Toronto and Montreal) that openly call for Israel’s destruction, as well as vandalism of synagogues and intimidation of Jews in the streets. There’s also a growing movement to boycott businesses owned by people who served in the IDF—that is, nearly every Israeli immigrant, male or female. These individuals are being named online, all coordinated by radical activist groups. I know several of them personally. Without exception, they are shocked and fearful.
We’ve watched how this phenomenon has spread and intensified, while governments at all levels—federal, provincial, and local—have failed to respond decisively.
Are there any counterforces to this “daily reality,” as interim president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Noah Shack, put it?
Dorsman: The only clear voice that declared itself pro-Jewish during the election was Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who ultimately lost the race for prime minister. There is deep fear and frustration within the Jewish population of Canada. There are, of course, some independent media outlets and organisations actively trying to push back, but they face strong opposition—or complete indifference.
Was antisemitism actually an election issue in Canada?
Dorsman: Not for most Canadians. But it certainly was for the Jewish community. Canada has four national parties (Liberal, Conservative, New Democrats, Green) and a French-speaking regional party (Bloc Québécois). One of the speakers at our weekly “hostage rally” put it this way: “There are three parties in Canada where we’re no longer welcome. Only one still has its door open”—meaning the Conservatives.
Many—though I don’t have precise numbers—progressive Jews voted Conservative this time, which is highly unusual. That says a lot about how deeply antisemitism has taken root in Canadian society. I’ve posted extensively on social media about this phenomenon, but received very little support. It’s deeply disillusioning, to put it mildly.
No silver linings? For instance, the fact that some anti-Israel MPs lost their seats?
Dorsman: Yes, that’s positive, but it’s far too early to say what will happen next. Don’t forget the Liberals campaigned with multiple faces: saying one thing in synagogues and another in mosques. They lack a clear moral position and blow with every political wind to gain support from different groups—which, frankly, worked well for them. This is likely how they will govern: offering Israel occasional space, while also pushing back forcefully. And that gives strength to anti-Israel forces, which have proven themselves to be very well organised.
How influential was the “Vote Palestine” campaign in this election, and what exactly does it represent?
Dorsman: It was a list or platform including candidates from the Liberals, the Greens, and the left-wing New Democrats. Many New Democrats lost their seats, but even so, about 10% of the elected Liberal MPs appeared on the “Vote Palestine” list. Green Party leader Elizabeth May was re-elected and is also on the list. She often receives disproportionate media coverage.
The “Vote Palestine” platform was initiated by the “Palestine Youth Movement,” a group with close ties to Samidoun, which has been accused of supporting terrorism.
I don’t know if this group can truly implement its goals, which include: (1) a two-way arms embargo on Israel, (2) combatting “anti-Palestinian racism” (whatever that may mean), (3) protecting and funding UNRWA, (4) recognition of a Palestinian state, and (5) ending Canadian involvement in settlements in Judea and Samaria.
Canada has many other pressing priorities, especially its economic relationship with the U.S. But sooner or later, Middle East policy will come to the forefront again. Take NATO’s rearmament plans, for example—Canada would be unable to purchase from one of the world’s most advanced arms producers if it followed the agenda of these “Pro-Palestine” MPs. I do expect Carney will try to soften the sharp edges of anti-Israel sentiment (again, it’s a relatively small faction within his party), without ever becoming overtly pro-Israel.
On the other hand, Carney doesn’t have a majority and needs every vote. He’ll probably rely on support from the New Democrats. And we should not underestimate how much social influence these groups wield—not necessarily in numbers, but in their ability to command media attention and support the many activist groups now active on the streets and in universities.
In your newsletter “The Fear Election,” you describe how difficult it was to convince fellow citizens that political leaders, by harshly criticising Israel, were accelerating the societal corrosion caused by antisemitism—and then standing by as Jew-hatred spilled into the streets.
Did people fail to see that demonising the Jewish state goes hand-in-hand (and is barely disguised) with classic antisemitism, and that this dangerous combination threatens all of Canadian society—not just the country’s tiny Jewish minority of 400,000 people, about 1% of the total population? After all, this is a direct attack on Canada’s democratic rule of law and the fundamental rights of its citizens.
What kind of reactions did you encounter?
Dorsman: Exactly. I’ve tried to explain this dynamic to friends, acquaintances, and neighbours. It’s often met with incomprehension, and when I draw the connection between antisemitism and anti-Israel protests, it gets dismissed quickly. Even the argument that “it starts with the Jews, and then…” doesn’t resonate here.
One neighbour messaged me to say it was all “bullshit” and that I was being misled. The real problem is a lack of historical knowledge, a vacuum filled with accusations of “genocide” in Gaza. I’m accused of being heartless and ignoring the victims in Gaza, even while I’m still in the middle of explaining how we got to this point in history. These conversations are rarely productive.
I try to stay calm and reasonable. I also associate with many Israelis and Jews who are critical of the Netanyahu government—but people don’t seem to grasp that either. And as a result, they don’t understand that a divided Jewish community quickly comes together when the threat of antisemitism becomes real.
I should add that several people I know—many from the political centre or left—voted Conservative this time out of fear of rising antisemitism and the lack of moral clarity among progressive politicians. That, at least, offers some hope.
Do you think these attitudes are also fuelled by one-sided media coverage of Israel?
Dorsman: Absolutely. It’s not much different here than in the Netherlands. The national broadcaster, CBC, is subtle but consistently slanted. That became clear during the election, including in how Liberal and Conservative politicians were treated. The same applies to coverage of the Middle East. The major newspapers have lost influence and usually take a centrist stance—except for the National Post. Thankfully, there’s a growing number of independent media outlets.
Does this election result spark renewed interest in aliyah, the return to Zion, among Canadian Jews?
Dorsman: I don’t have data, but based on social media and conversations around me, there’s definitely a debate happening. It coincides with growing discontent over Canada’s economy. For many Jewish Canadians, this may be the final straw prompting them to leave—for Israel, but also for the U.S., for example.
It’s worth noting that Canada has long been seen as an extremely safe haven for Jews, a new home for Holocaust survivors, and arguably more tolerant than Europe or even the U.S.
The shock within the Jewish community at seeing Canada now lead in antisemitism is almost indescribable. It has reached unprecedented levels. The Jewish community has suddenly adopted a sense of vigilance it never knew before. That contributes to the growing alienation and disbelief—and it doesn’t look like that will change anytime soon, especially not under Carney’s new government. That’s the key point. The hope that the wave of antisemitic hatred unleashed after October 7 would subside has been crushed by this election.
Subscribe to Pieter Dorsman’s Substack, which you can find here. He previously gave an interview to this site, which you can read here (in Dutch).
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