Overview

• Deborah Lyons announced she will leave her role as Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism three months ahead of schedule, citing a heavy heart and deep disappointments without offering further explanation.
• Lyons assumed the post in October 2023, just days after the Israel-Hamas war began, during which Canada saw large protests and a spike in hate crimes targeting Jews and Muslims.
• During her 21-month tenure, she forged partnerships with universities and police services to enhance Holocaust and antisemitism education and counter negative stereotypes.
• Last week she released a report urging Ontario school boards to take incidents of anti-Jewish bigotry seriously after surveying Jewish parents, marking her foray into provincial education policy.
• Her unexpected departure leaves the role vacant with no successor named and Global Affairs Canada has not announced a timeline for appointing a replacement.