VICTORIA —Today the BC NDP committed to fund new security measures to protect the Jewish community in British Columbia and lead a coordinated response to the growing threat posed by white nationalism.

A BC NDP government would provide $500,000 yearly to the Western Jewish Community Security Network to strengthen security at Jewish schools, synagogues and community centres across British Columbia. The funding would continue for three years.

“This funding will help Jewish community venues identify and respond to threats and keep students, families, worshippers and community members safe,” said Nina Krieger, BC NDP candidate for Victoria-Swan Lake. “But security alone is not enough. We need police services and governments working together to identify threats, disrupt extremist activity and prevent hate from becoming violence.”

A re-elected BC NDP government would also convene a summit of police services from across British Columbia to strengthen coordination on investigations, intelligence and enforcement related to extremist activity. Additionally, through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial ministers’ forum, it would press for a coordinated national approach to investigating and deterring white nationalist, white supremacist and neo-Nazi activity.

Studies and media investigations have shown a rise in individuals and groups associated with these movements promoting antisemitism, anti-Indigenous racism and Islamophobia, among other forms of hate. The recent event organized to intimidate the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation is, unfortunately, just example.

“Jewish British Columbians should never have to weigh their safety against going to synagogue, school or a community event. When people organize around hatred, it does not stay contained to one community. Antisemitism, anti-Indigenous racism and Islamophobia are all part of a broader threat from extremism that we must confront together,” said BC NDP Leader David Eby. “Our message is clear: all British Columbians, regardless of their faith, deserve to live, work, worship and raise their children in safe communities without fear.”

The new commitments build on actions already taken by the BC NDP government to protect vulnerable communities, including an expanded hate-crimes unit, new safe-access protections for schools and places of worship and funding through the Civil Forfeiture Grant Program to strengthen security at community institutions.

The BC NDP government has also been working with Jewish community organizations and law enforcement to ensure security measures respond to evolving threats. Public Safety Canada has similarly identified antisemitism as a public safety and national security concern, citing its links to violent extremist ideologies.