Through the efforts of Benjamin Hart, the Legislative Assembly granted Jews the right to erect a new synagogue and to keep registers of births, marriages and deaths within their community.

Politics and public service still remained off limits to Jews. In 1830, Lord Matthew Aylmer, the new governor of Lower Canada, offered Hart the position of justice of the peace. Unfortunately, after discussing the matter with his advisors, Aylmer had to withdraw his offer.

Furious, Hart wrote a letter to King William. Other "Jewish subjects" of the King submitted a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada demanding that Jews be allowed to hold public office.

Papineau pushed the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada to pass a bill in 1832 that guaranteed full rights to people practising the Jewish faith. England and its other colonies would not grant these rights for another 25 years.