Globe editorial: Thoughts and prayers, Canadian style
2026/08/07 1 Comment
Valid critique. Time to stop using “thoughts and prayers” language with any such incident, no matter the issue or group:
…So how to turn back this growing tide of hatred? As we have argued before, that effort has to begin with understanding, and speaking, the truth: Antizionism is fuelling the rise in antisemitism. The rejection of Israel, of its very right to exist, has become the growth medium for the contagion of antisemitism. The test of courage for any political leader is whether they are willing to speak this truth. Prime Minister Mark Carney failed that test in June, even as he tried to provide comfort to the Jewish-Canadian community.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has failed even more spectacularly. In fairness, Ms. Chow has spoken out against anti-Israel protests being staged in the heart of the Jewish-Canadian neighbourhood near Bathurst and Sheppard in north Toronto. And, of course, she has offered her thoughts and prayers, Canadian style, in condemnation of incidents such as the attack on Kiva’s.
But Ms. Chow has, through her actions, shown where her sympathies lie. The mayor refused to attend a flag-raising ceremony for Israel’s national day in May, 2024, saying such an event was “divisive.” She also declined to take part in the annual Walk for Israel in June of this year.
Yet, the mayor had no problem with blurting out “Free Palestine” – the rallying slogan of those antizionist rallies – during the Pride Parade in late June.
The mayor’s office did not respond when asked last week why the flag-raising event was divisive, but reciting the Free Palestine slogan is not a problem. Ms. Chow owes Torontonians, particularly Jewish Torontonians, an explanation.
Does she, for instance, support the right of Israel to exist? Or is she in line with the hate-infused catechism (recited most weeks near Bathurst and Sheppard) that deems Israel a pariah state?
Until she does clarify, her thoughts and prayers will ring hollow.
About Andrew
Multicultural Meanderings 
There are two issues here, of which you address one. The first is the once-seemingly pithy statement “thoughts and prayers,” which has come to be meaningless. When I hear it from a politician, I interpret it as “I will do nothing about this situation, but I regret that you (as a potential voter for me) have undergone this tragedy.”
The second is the undeniable rise in violent acts of antisemitism, such as the shooting at Kiva’s or the arson at Noam. Is there a government policy that can prevent such acts occurring in the future. It is far too simplistic to blame “those people”, a catch-all for immigrants whose skin colour or religion some people don’t like. And it is also too simplistic to call for more police, more Crowns, or longer sentences. Punishments in the Criminal Code are proportionate to one another. Since the sentence for first-degree murder is 25 years without chance for parole, it would be ludicrous to suggest that arson, a property crime with or without hate motivations, should have a more onerous sentence. Still, something should be done.
I do not know if things will get better after the Israeli election this fall, but I suspect not. Even if most of the policies of the Netanyahu government were reversed (they won’t be), there are still more than enough core antisemites in Canada to continue the violence. So, regardless of the policies of the Government of Israel, I am looking for more from my politicians than “thoughts and prayers” or even thoughts and prayers.