Affirming Council's Support for Toronto's Jewish Community in a Time of Crisis and ongoing threats - by Councillor James Pasternak, seconded by Councillor Brad Bradford

On the evening of October 9, 2023, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister, the Premier of Ontario, and the Mayor of Toronto along with many other elected officials gathered in Mel Lastman Square and condemned the attacks and pledged support to Toronto's Jewish community. Shockingly, this past weekend rallies took place to support and celebrate these terror attacks by Hamas. According to their event promotions, the rally was to celebrate "over 30 Zionist hostages captured" and to "uplift and honour our resistance and our martyrs." One of these rallies was held at Nathan Phillips Square. In the past 24 hours there have been unsubstantiated threats against the Jewish community and its institutions. There is ongoing monitoring of this messaging by police services and various agencies to determine whether they are credible. This motion provides assurances that the City of Toronto and Toronto Police Services will allocate the necessary intelligence and resources to keep the city safe. This motion also requests Council condemn these attacks and terrorism in all its forms. This motion is urgent given the fast-moving international events and vital need to provide support and reassurance to Toronto's Jewish and Israeli communities.

3. City Council continue to work with Toronto Police Services, other levels of government and other security agencies to verify, track, prevent and respond to any threat to the Jewish and all communities in Toronto and work to strengthen the Hate Rallies, anti-discrimination events permitting policies.