"The article also presents a balanced perspective in a number of areas. It acknowledges that incidents of anti-Palestinian and anti-Islamic hate crimes and hate speech have increased alongside incidents of antisemitism in Canada since October 7, 2023."
Dear Mr. Allen and the Toronto Star editorial team,
I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to express my appreciation for publishing the article titled “I'm a Jewish Canadian, and I won't be voting for Pierre Poilievre” on April 26, 2025.
I appreciate that your piece highlights progressive Jewish voices and platforms.
In doing so, the article helps to dispel the myth that the Jewish vote in Canada is monolithic and driven by issues that only affect Jews, such as antisemitism and Canada’s stance on the current Israeli Government. The article points out that there are a multiplicity of views held by the Canadian Jewish community.
The article also presents a balanced perspective in a number of areas. It acknowledges that incidents of anti-Palestinian and anti-Islamic hate crimes and hate speech have increased alongside incidents of antisemitism in Canada since October 7, 2023. It clarifies that calling for a ceasefire and criticising the Israeli Government are not antisemitic, and that calling for ongoing funding for UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for distributing food, water and medicine to Gazans, does not equate with support for terrorism. The article emphasises the need to support delivery of humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, and acknowledges this assistance is currently being withheld by the Israeli Government.
I encourage the Toronto Star to continue to highlight progressive Jewish voices, as well as Palestinian voices, as we work to collectively draw attention to voices and movements that are often sidelined in Canadian mainstream media.
Sincerely,
Alison Jenkins