OTTAWA — A private member’s bill aimed at criminalizing the promotion of terrorism has been introduced in Canada. Bill C-257, sponsored by York Centre MP Roman Baber, passed its first reading in the House of Commons on Monday. The bill seeks to amend the criminal code to prohibit the willful promotion of terrorist activities and groups. This legislative move comes in response to a noticeable increase in such activities following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.

Jewish organizations have expressed strong support for the bill. Richard Robertson from B’nai Brith Canada stated, "We are seeing the continued rise of extremism and radicalization, and as a component of that we are seeing the normalization of the glorification and promotion of the actions and ideology of listed terrorist entities." He added that the organization welcomes any legislation that aims to combat the growing levels of extremism and radicalization in Canada.

The promotion of banned terrorist groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah, has been observed at various rallies across the country. For instance, during a recent Palestinian flag-raising event at Toronto City Hall, a woman was filmed wearing a red keffiyeh and expressing support for Hamas. She was seen making a gesture associated with the group while referring to hostages taken by Hamas during the October attacks.

Concerns have also been raised about the presence of individuals wearing uniforms linked to Hamas at rallies in Ottawa. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe expressed alarm over these displays, while Ottawa Police reported that their investigation found no issues with the costumes.

Since the October attacks, Canada has witnessed a significant rise in antisemitism. This has included regular protests targeting Jewish-owned businesses and intimidation in Jewish neighborhoods in Toronto. According to B’nai Brith Canada’s annual audit, there has been a 122% increase in antisemitic incidents since 2022. The introduction of Bill C-257 is seen as a potential step toward addressing these rising tensions and promoting safety within communities.