New Report Flags Widespread Failures in Canadian Universities’ Antisemitism Response

Canadian universities may offer active Jewish student groups, chaplaincy support and religious services while failing students on the more basic question of whether they can rely on administrators when antisemitism occurs. That contrast is at the center of B’nai Brith Canada’s new Campus Climate Report Card.

The initiative, launched as the academic year begins, forms part of the organization’s broader Project Accountability. Its first pilot examines York University, the University of Toronto, Queen’s University and McGill University, campuses where students have reported particularly hostile social climates.

The report cards do more than count incidents. They assess 28 equally weighted criteria across administrative policies and actions, campus conduct and climate, and Jewish life on campus. B’nai Brith combines student surveys with reviews of university policies, anti-hate measures, course offerings, kosher dining and Jewish services.

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The goal isn’t simply to hand out grades. It is to give students, parents and the community a clearer picture of what is happening on campus. We want to recognize where universities are getting it right, identify where they’re falling short, and help universities do better.

The initial findings show a sharp divide. All four universities scored well on traditional indicators of Jewish life, but campus climate and administrative-response measures produced widespread red scores. McGill, York and the University of Toronto received failing or critical marks for handling harassment, disruptions to events and transparency in reporting antisemitic incidents.

“The goal isn’t simply to hand out grades,” B’nai Brith Canada CEO Simon Wolle said in a press release. “It is to give students, parents and the community a clearer picture of what is happening on campus. We want to recognize where universities are getting it right, identify where they’re falling short, and help universities do better.” Wolle said the report cards should push institutions to revise weak policies and improve programming for Jewish students.

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Our Report Cards must serve as an impetus for Canadian institutions to revise their policies, where they fall short, and improve programming if it is insufficient to meet the needs of Jewish students.