Published February 7, 2024

Joel Ceausu – The Suburban LJI Reporter

One element of the Community Action Plan being developed to protect Montreal Jews during an unprecedented period of anti-Semitic intimidation, harassment and violence was met with harsh criticism by the mayor of Côte des Neiges—Notre Dame de Grâce.

Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, in whose borough sits numerous synagogues, Jewish schools, the main campus of Jewish organizations, where a Jewish school was shot at, and where posters of kidnapped children were removed by city workers and a Jewish community organization was firebombed, took issue with the idea that Quebec allow armed, trained security guards at community organizations, schools, and other locations where the public gathers during this emergency period, and establish rules under which such weapons can be carried.

“I deeply empathize with the Jewish community’s concerns about safety and security, especially given the troubling rise in antisemitic incidents in our country,” Katahwa told The Suburban, noting Montreal has spent over $2 million in police overtime to increase neighbourhood patrols, and reiterated her commitment “to supporting concrete and effective measures that fight all hate and discrimination, including antisemitism, but this proposal is not the solution that I believe is in our borough’s better interests.”

The immediate explosion of anti-Jewish hate, harassment and violence in cities across the globe, and particularly in Montreal, following the October 7 terrorist massacre of Israelis, prompted appeals from many Montreal Jews to provincial authorities to allow armed off-duty police officers to be stationed at vulnerable locations, or simply allow trained professionals to carry firearms — as they already do when transporting cash from private commerce in the midst of busy public roadways and parking lots across Montreal.

Katahwa had characterized that element of the 22-point Community Action Plan on combating anti-Jewish hate as “relaxing gun control” and “American style” solutions, accusing endorsers of the plan of inviting people “to give into fear,” singling out her opposition colleagues Snowdon city councillor Sonny Moroz and Darlington city councillor Stephanie Valenzuela. Quebec and Montreal have long had a strong gun control consensus that must be maintained, she said, particularly in a borough bearing the heavy scars of the Polytechnique massacre.

The Plan was also endorsed by Town of Mount Royal Mayor Peter Malouf, Côte Saint-Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi, Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, as well as D’Arcy McGee MNA Elizabeth Prass and Mount-Royal—Outremont MNA Michelle Setlakwe. Quebec’s Public Security Minister François Bonnardel had already rejected the notion, insisting existing public security forces are up for the task of protecting Montreal’s targeted Jewish population.

Ensemble Montreal stated it is not in favour of loosening gun controls and denounced what they called Katahwa’s “misinformation” about the Action Plan to Combat Anti-Jewish Hatred. The Opposition insists the Plante administration channel its efforts into finding solutions “and taking strong, concerted action to restore solidarity and peace of mind in our metropolis.” n

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