Carney ends Trudeau-era envoy roles on antisemitism and Islamophobia, creates broader Advisory Council

(Horizon Weekly / OTTAWA) — In a significant policy shift, Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that the federal government will scrap the special envoy positions on combating antisemitism and Islamophobia that were established under former prime minister Justin Trudeau and fold them into a new Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion.

The two roles, including the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, first held by journalist and human-rights advocate Amira Elghawaby, and the now-vacant Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, will no longer exist as stand-alone appointments. Instead, a broader council of experts and community leaders will advise the government on issues related to hate, discrimination, and social inclusion.

Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller told reporters the new council is intended to bring “a more unified and inclusive approach” to addressing systemic prejudice and promoting national unity.

The move has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters argue that a single, comprehensive body could better address intersecting forms of hate. Critics, including civil liberties groups, warn that eliminating dedicated roles at a time of rising incidents of antisemitism and anti-Muslim discrimination risks weakening targeted advocacy and support for affected communities.

The reorganization reflects Prime Minister Carney’s broader agenda to recalibrate federal initiatives on diversity and inclusion, and comes amid ongoing national conversations about social cohesion and rights protections in Canada.

(Photo: The Canadian Press)