🇨🇦 When Law and Order Breaks Down, Everyone Suffers

This past weekend, Jewish families in Toronto woke to find their mezuzahs torn from doorframes - a targeted act of antisemitism that signals a deeper crisis in Canadian society. In this important episode, host Neil Silvert sits down with Mark Sandler, one of Canada's most distinguished criminal lawyers and founder of the Alliance of Canadians Combating Antisemitism (ALCCA).

For over 40 years, Mark has been on the front lines combating hate and training law enforcement. This conversation explores what's happening in Canadian communities right now and what needs to change.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• The mezuzah incidents and what they represent
• Why this is fundamentally a law and order issue for all Canadians
• Bill C-9 (Combatting Hate Act) and why it's stalled in Parliament
• How ALCCA brings together 65+ organizations - Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Indigenous, Iranian and others
• The reality facing Jewish Canadians today: asking if there's still a place for them here
• Why enforcement of existing laws has been the biggest impediment
• Building bridges between communities through respectful dialogue
• What individual Canadians can do to make a difference

About Mark Sandler:
Criminal lawyer for 45 years, Mark is the founder and chair of ALCCA (Alliance of Canadians Combating Antisemitism). Former member of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, three-time elected Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario, and recipient of the G. Arthur Martin Medal - the highest honor in Canada's criminal profession. He's appeared before Parliamentary committees and the Supreme Court of Canada on issues relating to antisemitism and hate activities.

This conversation matters because what affects one community today affects all Canadians tomorrow. When we fail to enforce laws protecting any group, we undermine the foundations of our democracy.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Introduction: Mezuzahs Torn from Toronto Doorframes
3:38 - Meet Mark Sandler: 40 Years Fighting Antisemitism
4:04 - Mark's Legal Career and What Pulled Him Into This Fight
7:31 - How Are People Reacting When Mark Reaches Out?
9:18 - Building Bridges: The Hindu Community Alliance
11:30 - The Indigenous Voice: Justice Harry LaForme
13:45 - Why Anti-Western Hatred Targets Jews First
16:22 - The Reality on Canadian Campuses Right Now
19:50 - "From the River to the Sea" - What It Really Means
23:15 - Police Training and the Failure to Enforce Laws
26:40 - Bill C-9: The Combatting Hate Act Explained
29:55 - Why Bill C-9 Is Currently Stalled in Parliament
31:29 - Is There a Future for Jews in Canada?
34:09 - Neil's Personal Experience: Fear in Hamilton
35:28 - This Is About Law and Order for All Canadians
37:06 - What You Can Do: Getting Involved with ALCCA
40:11 - Final Thoughts: Democracy Requires All of Us

Mark Sandler & ALCCA:
• ALCCA Website: https://www.alcca.ca
• Subscribe to Newsletter for Calls to Action: https://www.alcca.ca

Bill C-9 - Combatting Hate Act:
• Full Text: https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/45-1/bill/C-9/first-reading
• Justice Department Backgrounder: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/pl/c9/index.html

Related Episodes: Check our conversation with Gustavo Rymberg on community safety in Canada.

💬 Your Voice Matters: How do we balance free speech with community safety? Share your thoughts below.

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