Canada Replaces Special Envoys on Islamophobia and Antisemitism with Advisory Council

Canada Replaces Special Envoys on Islamophobia and Antisemitism with Advisory Council
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The Canadian government announced on Wednesday the elimination of two federal positions: the Special Representative for Combating Islamophobia, previously held by Amira Elghawaby, and the Special Envoy for Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism, which had been vacant.

The government stated that a new advisory council, tasked with addressing racism and hate in all its forms, will replace the two offices. Details regarding the council’s composition and operational framework have not yet been released. Herminne Landry, spokesperson for the Office of the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, told Radio Canada International that the council “aims to unite communities against hate,” emphasizing that “hate is hate, and as Canadians, we must work together to fight it.” She also said the council would build upon the previous work of the former offices.

Samira Al-Aouni, head of the nonprofit Communication, Openness, and Intercultural Relations, noted that the new council appears set to assume the responsibilities previously handled by the abolished offices.

The decision drew criticism from Canadian Muslim and Jewish organizations. Samer Majzoub, president of the Canadian Islamic Forum, expressed concern that eliminating the offices comes amid rising hate crimes, Islamophobic incidents, and violent attacks against Muslims, calling the timing “particularly disappointing.” The National Council of Canadian Muslims also condemned the move, citing the continued rise of Islamophobia and the need for dedicated federal leadership, while thanking Elghawaby for her service. Similarly, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs praised the past work of the office dedicated to Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism.