Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is facing mounting criticism and calls to resign after referring to Israel’s military actions in Gaza as “genocide” during a public event over the weekend.
Speaking at a gathering organized by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), Chow drew comparisons between the suffering in Gaza and her own mother’s experiences during Japan’s occupation of China in the Second World War.
“My mother was a child in a war zone,” Chow said during her address on Saturday. “The genocide in Gaza impacts us all — and I will speak out when children anywhere are feeling pain, violence, and hunger.”
The remarks immediately drew sharp backlash from Jewish organizations and community leaders, who accused Chow of spreading misinformation, fueling antisemitism, and deepening divisions in a city already grappling with rising hate crimes.
Jewish Groups Condemn Remarks as “Reckless and Irresponsible”
Avi Benlolo, chair and CEO of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative (AGPI), called Chow’s comments “reckless, inflammatory, and completely untrue.” He said her statements distort the reality of the Gaza war and ignore atrocities committed by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks, which killed over 1,200 Israeli civilians.
“For the mayor of Canada’s largest city, it’s purely irresponsible,” Benlolo said.
Richard Robertson of B’nai Brith Canada said Chow’s words “embolden those who use geopolitical issues to justify hate domestically,” while Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), called them “reckless, divisive, and dangerous.”
“Such language legitimizes the hostility and intimidation that Jewish Torontonians are already facing in record numbers,” Shack warned. “By echoing that narrative, Mayor Chow undermines confidence in her commitment to the safety and inclusion of all Torontonians.”
The Canadian Antisemitism Foundation went further, calling Chow’s remarks a “calculated insult” and demanding her resignation. “The only genocide in Gaza was the massacre perpetrated by Hamas and its allies on October 7,” the organization said in a statement, accusing Chow of spreading falsehoods that put Toronto’s Jewish community at greater risk.
Councillors Urge Chow to Stay Focused on Local Issues
Toronto city councillors have also voiced frustration with the mayor’s comments. Ward 19 Councillor Brad Bradford said Chow should concentrate on addressing local concerns rather than weighing in on international conflicts.
“I wish Mayor Chow was talking about how she plans to ensure safety for everyone in Toronto, rather than commenting on a conflict thousands of miles away — especially when her remarks contradict Canada’s official stance,” Bradford told the Toronto Sun.
Rising Antisemitism in Toronto Adds to Concern
The controversy comes as Canada grapples with a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents. B’nai Brith Canada reported that anti-Jewish hate surged 124 per cent between 2022 and 2024, with Toronto witnessing frequent intimidation rallies, vandalism, and attacks on Jewish-owned businesses, schools, and synagogues.
Community leaders fear Chow’s remarks could exacerbate tensions further. “When you make a statement like that, it emboldens extremists,” said AGPI’s Benlolo. “It sends the wrong message at the wrong time.”
Mayor Chow has yet to respond publicly to the criticism or issue a clarification about her comments.