"Given the above, I am concerned that this column, despite its careful tone, unintentionally reinforces a reductive view of Jewish political affiliation in Canada. In doing so, it risks misleading readers and flattening a politically diverse community into a simplified narrative."
April 25, 2025
David Walmsley, Editor-in-Chief, Globe and Mail
Sylvia Stead, Public Editor, Globe and Mail
Sandra Martin, Standards Editor, Globe and Mail
Natasha Hassan, Opinion Editor, Globe and Mail
Marsha Lederman, Columnist, Globe and Mail
Dear Ms. Lederman,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to express my concern regarding your column “Why many Canadian Jews are gravitating toward the Conservative Party", published on April 23, 2025. While the article appropriately acknowledges that no community is a monolith, the rest of the article reinforces a monolithic framing that doesn’t make much effort to reflect the diverse realities of Jewish political thought in Canada.
First, you immediately suggest that “so many Canadian Jews are enamoured with the Conservative Party.” This immediately erases the significant plurality of Jewish political perspectives in Canada.
Although it is slightly dated given Trudeau is now out of office, a 2024 Leger survey, found that while 55 per cent of Canadian Jews indicated support for the Conservative Party, 26 per cent supported the Liberals and 9 per cent the NDP. This reveals that there is a more complex picture than your article suggests, with a substantial portion of the community aligning with other parties.
Another important factor is that views on Israel itself are nuanced within the community.
While 94 per cent of Canadian Jews affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, only 51 per cent identify as Zionists. This indicates that support for Israel does not translate into blanket support for any given Israeli government, nor does it predict a uniform political affiliation within Canada.
This makes your portrayal of Pierre Poilievre as the singular champion of Jewish safety even more ridiculous.
It is true that Mr. Poilievre has made vocal declarations against antisemitism, his unconditional support for Israel and his opposition to funding UNRWA, but this does not reflect the political priorities of all Jewish Canadians. In a recent article by Canadian Jewish News, Professor Myer Siemiatycki of Toronto Metropolitan University stated that there remains a “diversity of currents of support in various different political and partisan directions within the Jewish community.” He also warns against framing the Jewish vote as a “bloc” tied to any particular party.
Lastly, the article also noted that there are also shifting concerns about Canada's economy and U.S. politics have recently changed political preferences among Jewish Canadians. In the article, political scientist Myer Siemiatycki observed that there is a class divide within the community with the most affluent tending to support the Conservatives, while the upper-middle class leaning towards Liberal. The minority who rank social justice policy highly and see the Palestinians as engaged in a legitimate anti-colonialist struggle tend to support the NDP and to some extent the Greens.
The article uses Winnipeg as an example of this divide since it holds the highest proportion of Jewish representation. Its three incumbent Jewish MPs represent three separate parties: Conservative Marty Morantz, Liberal Ben Carr, and the NDP’s Leah Gazan. The NDP represents a lower income area than the Liberals and Conservatives do in their districts. Moreover, recent political developments, including the re-election of Donald Trump and shifting economic concerns, have already prompted some movement back towards the Liberal Party. This political shift reflects that the community is far from static and their votes are not necessarily based on political allegiances to Israel.
Given the above, I am concerned that this column, despite its careful tone, unintentionally reinforces a reductive view of Jewish political affiliation in Canada. In doing so, it risks misleading readers and flattening a politically diverse community into a simplified narrative.
I urge The Globe and Mail to consider this data in a follow up article in order to reflect the full spectrum of political thought within Canadian Jewish communities. Doing so would be in keeping with the Canadian Association of Journalists’ principles of fairness, accuracy, and diversity.
Sincerely,
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East