The federal government is set to eliminate two key offices dedicated to addressing religious discrimination by merging them into a unified Advisory Council on Rights, Equality, and Inclusion. The Offices of the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia and the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism will be discontinued.
According to Identity Minister Marc Miller, the decision involves integrating these positions into a new committee on national unity and an advisory committee on rights, equity, and inclusion. These offices have been instrumental in identifying divisive issues within the country, and the focus now shifts towards establishing a national unity committee.
Minister Miller emphasized that the restructuring is not driven by cost-saving motives. The Toronto Star initially reported the news regarding the abolitions.
Community organizations have expressed concerns about the changes. The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) criticized the closure of the Office of the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, advocating for sustained leadership in combating Islamophobia. The NCCM and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) stated their intentions to monitor the new advisory council’s activities.
CIJA’s CEO, Noah Shack, highlighted the ongoing challenges of antisemitism and extremism in Canada, urging proactive measures from the government. B’nai Brith Canada also cautioned against potential dilution of efforts to combat antisemitism and called for a commission of inquiry on the matter.
The NCCM had actively campaigned for the establishment of the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, particularly following the tragic events involving the Afzaal family in London, Ontario, in 2021. Amira Elghawaby was appointed as the first representative to the office in January 2023.
The Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism’s office currently lacks staff after the previous envoy, Deborah Lyons, resigned in July 2025. Lyons cited personal reasons for her departure and expressed disappointment over societal divisions. The Heritage Department announced that a new appointment to the position would be made in the future.
The government stated that further details about the composition of the advisory council would be disclosed at a later date. The Bloc commended the decision to discontinue the two offices and replace them with the council, emphasizing the need for an enhanced strategy to combat racism.