The founder of the Jewish Ally group says he was active in encouraging Jewish residents in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul’s to vote against the Liberals in Monday’s federal byelection due to a rise in antisemitism.

Andrew Kirsch was the riding’s Progressive Conservative candidate in the 2018 Ontario election and helped launch the Jewish Ally group earlier this year in anticipation of Monday’s vote.

Kirsch says members of the Jewish community feel “abandoned” by the governing Trudeau Liberals, and he believes that played a bigger role in the results than any views about the Israel-Hamas war itself.

The close race ended with the Liberals suffering a stunning loss and the Conservatives winning the previously “safe seat” by 590 votes.

Both Liberals and Conservatives say the crisis in the Middle East was a factor in a riding where one in six residents identifies as Jewish.

Lisa Raitt is a former federal Conservative deputy leader and told Zoomer Radio’s Fight Back with Libby Znaimer, she sees the loss as a referendum on Justin Trudeau’s leadership.

“With the 44-percent turnout, with both the NDP and the Liberal numbers going down, I think it’s fair to say that Canadians, especially in this area, it’s a very good indicator that they have lost confidence in this government and I think they should call an election,” Raitt explained on Tuesday, “if Mr. Trudeau wants to lead them, then he should lead them into an election now.”

The same perspective was expressed Tuesday in a online statement from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre who said “Trudeau can’t go on like this. He must call a carbon tax election now.”