NCCAR urges Ottawa to reconsider dissolving Islamophobia and antisemitism envoy roles

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published February 8, 2026

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The National Council of Canada–Arab Relations (NCCAR) has called on Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller to reconsider the federal government’s decision to dissolve the roles dedicated to combatting Islamophobia and antisemitism, saying the move raises serious concerns about Canada’s anti-racism commitments.

In a statement addressed to the minister, NCCAR said Canada’s Federal Anti-Racism Strategy recognizes racism—including Islamophobia and antisemitism—as systemic and evolving, and argued that effective responses require dedicated leadership, accountability, transparency, and sustained engagement with affected communities. The organization said eliminating the envoy roles appears inconsistent with a whole-of-government approach to combating racism and could undermine trust with communities that continue to experience hate, exclusion, and violence.

NCCAR also said the timing of the decision is “particularly troubling,” noting it follows the ninth anniversary of the Quebec City mosque attack and comes immediately after International Holocaust Remembrance Day—moments that, the statement argues, underscore the need for strong public commitments to remembrance, prevention, and accountability.

The council emphasized that the former envoys played a vital role not only in advising the federal government, but also in working directly with communities, institutions, and civil society to strengthen capacity, promote education, and support coordinated efforts against religion-based hate—work it said aligns with the federal strategy’s emphasis on prevention and community-informed policy.

NCCAR urged Ottawa to: reconsider the decision to dissolve the roles; ensure any restructuring is done through meaningful, transparent consultation that includes the current envoys and Jewish and Muslim communities; and commit to clear, accountable mechanisms for creating, modifying, or dissolving anti-racism bodies.

The statement also rejected any framing that suggests fighting antisemitism and fighting Islamophobia are competing priorities, stating that “justice and safety are not zero-sum.”