Toronto Jewish Leaders Press Ottawa on Security Funding, Independent-school Tax Credits

TORONTO — Local Jewish community leaders raised concerns about the growing financial burden of security at synagogues and schools during a meeting with MP Vince Gasparro and representatives of several Toronto faith communities.

Rabbi Yonason Jaffit of the Coalition of Ontario Jewish Schools (COJS) and Rabbi Sam Taylor of Shaarei Shomayim were among the Jewish representatives at the meeting, which included a discussion about federal support for communities facing security threats.

A major focus was the federal government's Canada Community Security Program and the limitations on what expenses it currently covers.

Rabbi Jaffit pointed out that while the program can provide funding for various security measures, the cost of employing regular security guards at shuls and Jewish schools is not currently covered.

That distinction has become increasingly significant as Jewish institutions across Toronto have been forced to devote substantial resources to ongoing security.
During the discussion, MP Vince Gasparro asked community representatives to provide him with fiscal data outlining how much Toronto's Jewish community is spending on security on an ongoing basis.

MP Gasparro indicated that understanding the scale of those expenditures would help him assess the issue and potentially collaborate with COJS and other community organizations in exploring funding options.

The meeting also broadened beyond security.
Rabbi Taylor initiated a discussion about the possibility of providing tax credits connected to independent-school education. MP Gasparro indicated that he would explore the issue further.

Representatives of several other faith communities also expressed solidarity with Toronto's Jewish community over the antisemitic violence and intimidation it has faced.

One particularly striking comment came from a representative of the Seventh-day Adventist community. Because Seventh-day Adventists observe Saturday as their Sabbath, the representative expressed concern that their churches could potentially be targeted by antisemites who might mistake their congregations for Jewish ones.
The discussion highlighted both the extraordinary security challenges facing Toronto's Jewish institutions and the broader impact that rising antisemitism can have beyond the Jewish community itself.

For COJS and other community organizations, the next step will be assembling detailed figures demonstrating the cost of maintaining security at Jewish schools, synagogues and other institutions — information that could help shape further discussions with Ottawa over possible financial support.