Justice committee  I'll mention just a few and pass to my colleagues. First of all, we really appreciate all of the good support in the budget. It's excellent. It really was wind in our sails, particularly with regard to law enforcement, money for training and the work that CRRF is doing in terms of delivering training, but it has to be specific to anti-Semitism and it has to incorporate the IHRA definition.

Justice committee  Unfortunately, I think the answer is yes. It does have an impact. Again, I would say that conflicts that happen in many parts of the world—and I have been present for a number of those—need not end up in our backyard with us fighting with one another. That is not what Canadian values suggest, nor is that who Canadians are.

Justice committee  Thank you so much for that very important question. Let me mention a few things in the opening. We now have the majority of provinces, through their ministers of education, committing to mandatory Holocaust education in K-to-12 schools, which is to be implemented in the fall of 2025.

Justice committee  I would have to say that I was very impressed with the recommendation that came forward from your party on this. We have seen with this recent case in Quebec the implications of using a religious defence. Certainly I think it's something we have to continue to examine. I'm discussing it right now with the Department of Justice and with others.

Justice committee  Madam Chair, may I respond?

Justice committee  Okay. I wasn't sure if your signal was for me or for the member. Thank you very much, again, for pointing this out. I think that there is no question that some of the material—much of the material—needs further reworking. That is what my office is going to be doing, working with the public service right across our network.

Justice committee  Okay. We'll let it go and come back to it.

Justice committee  Again, I just want to reiterate how important it is for this committee to be examining this issue and making recommendations. Our office is very much looking forward to not just the recommendations but also any research that you may have done in preparation for this committee that would help us to move forward in our work.

Justice committee  Thank you very much for that question. Look, I think one of the things that has become obvious, particularly since October 7—frankly, I felt it was obvious before I took the job— is that there's a lot of hard work to be done everywhere in our public service—federally, provincially, municipally—in businesses, in civil society and most certainly in the universities, as we've heard this morning and as you heard previously, to make sure that people understand anti-Semitism.

Justice committee  Thank you very much for the question from the esteemed member. Again, I emphasize that we have a lot of hard work to do. We in no way have it right in terms of ensuring that the IHRA definition, which the Canadian Parliament and all parties approved and which is accepted by most of our provincial governments....

Justice committee  Thank you so much, Madam Chair. Thank you to the committee for your attention to this important subject. Thank you for this opportunity to examine a topic that might be one of the most important issues our country is facing right now. I also thank you for the opportunity to share a panel with respected colleagues.

Justice committee  Thank you. I think it would be best if I restart, Madam Chair.

Justice committee  Once again, thank you, Madam Chair and committee, for your attention this morning. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss a topic that in my opinion is one of the most important issues our country is facing. I thank you for the opportunity to share a panel with respected colleagues.