Eby meets with Jewish community, vows to ‘root out’ public service antisemitism

British Columbia Premier David Eby says he heard “devastating” accounts of antisemitism in the Jewish community’s interactions with public servants and has vowed to “root out” the problem.

Eby met with leaders of several Jewish groups on Friday and said after the meeting that he believes people from the community have experienced antisemitism from public servants.

The premier said although none of the cases relayed to him by the Jewish groups have been reported to the province, he knows from personal experience as a human rights lawyer that people may be “incredibly scared” to come forward.

“If you have had experiences like this, bring forward your concerns,” Eby said. “It will be investigated and they will be addressed, and we will root out these issues.”

As for the province’s directive to public servants on speaking on issues such as the Israel-Hamas conflict, Eby was firm.

“The message for the public service is really clear: You need to leave your politics at home.”

In a joint letter issued after the meeting, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, the Rabbinical Association of Vancouver and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said the groups want to see more concrete actions to address rising antisemitism in B.C.

The groups have been critical of Eby’s government since former BC New Democrat cabinet minister Selina Robinson quit the party on Wednesday, citing antisemitism among her colleagues and indifference to the problem.

“We appreciate the first step taken by the premier today,” the group’s letter said. “Now he must make amends for the harms he has caused and address the alarming increase in antisemitism in B.C. with concrete action.”

The letter said the way Robinson was treated has “sent a chilling message that