Anti-Semitism (Human Rights)

Prime Minister King's Response to Immigration during the German-Austria Jewish Immigration Crisis

katherine — Fri, 17 May 2024 13:25:34 +0000

Prime Minister King's Response to Immigration during the German-Austria Jewish Immigration Crisis katherine Fri, 05/17/2024 - 10:25

Prime Minister King's Response to Immigration during the German-Austria Jewish Immigration Crisis

This diary entry from former Prime Minister Mackenzie King illustrates the government's attitude towards Jewish immigration during the German-Austria Jewish immigration crisis.
This entry occurs around the time of the Evian Conference where President Roosevelt convened several countries to address the Jewish refugee problem in Europe.
On Tuesday March 29, 1938 Prime Minister King wrote "A very difficult question has presented itself in Roosevelt's appeal to different boundries to unite with the United States in admitting refugees from Austria, Germany, etc. That means, in a word, admitting numbers of Jews. My own feeling is that nothing is to be gained by creating an internal problem in an effort to meet an international one. That we must be careful not to seek to play the role of the dog in the manger so far as Canada is concerned, with our great open spaces and small population. We must nevertheless seek to keep this part of the Continent free from unrest and from too great an intermixture of foreign strains of blood, as much the same thing as lies at the basis of the Oriental problem. I fear we would have riots if we agree to a policy that admitted numbers of Jews."
It is clear from this excerpt that not only was the Prime Minister largely opposed to Jews, but that he saw Jews as a disservice to the Canadian economy and agriculture and to his political career.
Anti-semitic sentiments were common at this time both by Government officials and Canadians at large.

Citation

Mackenzie King, William Lyon. Diaries of William Lyon Mackenzie King March 29, 1938. Diary Entry. Item 10034, Reference MG26-J13, p. 2. Library and Archives Canada. Accessed July 27, 2022. https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=DiaWlmKing&IdNumber=10034

Further Readings

For an alternative format of PM King's Diary Entry on March 29, 1938: https://tc2.ca/sourcedocs/uploads/images/HD%20Sources%20(text%20thumbs)/Immigration/Jewish%20immigration%20to%20Canada%20during%20WWII/Jewish-immigration-to-Canada-during-WWII%203.pdf

Overlapping Topics

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship

Policy Sub-Topic

Anti-Semitism (Human Rights)

Policy Type

Historical File

The International Conference on Refugees in Évian 1938

katherine — Fri, 17 May 2024 13:22:22 +0000

The International Conference on Refugees in Évian 1938 katherine Fri, 05/17/2024 - 10:22

The International Conference on Refugees in Évian 1938

In the summer of 1938 (July 6-15, 1938) delegates from thirty-two countries met in Évian-les-Bains (Evian), France to discuss the emerging refugee crisis occuring because of the influx of Jewish people escaping Nazism.
This conference occurred at a time when many countries, including Canada, had strict immigration quotes, which ultimately went unchanged despite the urgent need for safe refuge for Jews from the Nazis rule in Germany and Austria.
This conferences was convened by President Roosevelt urging leaders to find a long-term solution, however, no country, except the Dominican Republic, was willing to accept more refugees.
This resource includes Canada's policy on immigration and refugees at the time of the conference and also includes a copy of Canadian delegate Humphrey Hume Wrong's speech, which gave excuses as to why Canada could not increase its immigration quotes.
One year later, based on immigration policies that went unchanged after the Evian conference and a clear indifference towards the plight of German and Austrian Jews, Canada would refuse the Jewish refugee passengers on board MS St.Louis, and many of whom would later perish in the Holocaust.

Citation

"Canada." Closed Borders: The International Conference on Refugees in Évian 1938. Accessed July 26, 2022. https://evian1938.de/en/canada/

Further Readings

For more information on the Evian Conference: https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/text/statements-representatives-evian-conference-july-1938
& https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-evian-conference
& https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-65046-3

Overlapping Topics

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship

Policy Sub-Topic

Anti-Semitism (Human Rights)

Policy Type

International Leaders Forum

Holocaust Memorial Day Act

katherine — Fri, 17 May 2024 13:19:13 +0000

Holocaust Memorial Day Act katherine Fri, 05/17/2024 - 10:19

Holocaust Memorial Day Act

The Holocaust Memorial Day Act was assented on July 11, 2003 and is referred to as the Yom ha-Shoah or the Day of the Holocaust and was celebrated for the first time in 2004.
The exact day is determined every year based on the Jewish lunar calendar and is an "opportune day to reflect on and educate about the enduring lessons of the Holocaust and to reaffirm a commitment to uphold human rights".

Citation

Holocaust Memorial Day Act, Statutes of Canada 2003, c. 24. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/h-5.4/fulltext.html

Overlapping Topics

Culture, Religion & Ethnicity

Policy Sub-Topic

Anti-Semitism (Human Rights)

Policy Type

Federal Statute

National Holocaust Monument Act

katherine — Fri, 17 May 2024 13:11:33 +0000

National Holocaust Monument Act katherine Fri, 05/17/2024 - 10:11

National Holocaust Monument Act

Bill C-442, an Act to Establish a National Holocaust Memorial became law on May 25, 2011, signed by the Governor General and it took just over six years until the project was completed.
This is the official National Holocaust Monument Act, which serves to forever remind Canadians of one of "the darkest chapters in human history," to act as a educational tool for future generations and to help prevent future acts of genocide.

Citation

National Holocaust Monument Act, Statutes of Canada 2011, c. 13. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/N-10.5/FullText.html

Overlapping Topics

Culture, Religion & Ethnicity

Policy Sub-Topic

Anti-Semitism (Human Rights)

Policy Type

Federal Statute

National Holocaust Monument

katherine — Fri, 17 May 2024 13:09:12 +0000

National Holocaust Monument katherine Fri, 05/17/2024 - 10:09

National Holocaust Monument

On September 27, 2017, the National Holocaust Monument was unveiled in Ottawa, Ontario called Landscape of Loss, Memory and Survival, which was created to commemorate the millions of Jewish men, women, and children murdered in the Holocaust along with the other millions of other victims of Nazi Germany and to acknowledge the contributions Jewish survivors have made to Canada over the years.
The monument is located at the corner of Wellington and Booth streets in Ottawa, Ontario and was inaugurated by the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, PC, MP, Prime Minister of Canada where he spoke about how the memorial stood as evidence of the government's commitments to fighting antisemitism, racism and xenophobia.
The monument included a plaque which wrote that the monument honours the "millions of men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust" but did not specifically mention the horrors faced specifically by Jewish people.
This decision was heavily criticized, but concerns were quickly addressed and Canada's heritage minister ensured the plaque would be removed and replaced to accurately reflect the experiences of Jewish people in the Holocaust.

Citation

"National Holocaust Monument." National Capital Commission. Accessed July 28, 2022. https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/projects/national-holocaust-monument

Further Readings

For more information on the National Holocaust Monument: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/04/canada-holocaust-memorial-plaque-removed
& https://www.holocaustmonument.ca/
& https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/art-monuments/monuments/holocaust.html

Overlapping Topics

Culture, Religion & Ethnicity

Policy Sub-Topic

Anti-Semitism (Human Rights)

Policy Type

National Monument

Unveiling of Canada's Holocaust Memorial Monument (2011)

katherine — Fri, 17 May 2024 13:04:59 +0000

Unveiling of Canada's Holocaust Memorial Monument (2011) katherine Fri, 05/17/2024 - 10:04

Unveiling of Canada's Holocaust Memorial Monument (2011)

Despite Holocaust survivors and their descendants playing a large role contributing to Canadian society following the Second World War, Canada was the last Western country to erect a national Holocaust memorial monument.
In January 2011, The Wheel of Conscience was unveiled in Halifax, Nova Scotia by the Canadian Jewish Congress and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
The memorial was created by Daniel Libeskind who is a son of Holocaust survivor and the memorial reflects the 900+ Jews onboard the MS St. Louis in 1939 who were refused entry into several countries, including Canada, and among those passengers, nearly 1/3 perished in concentration camps during the Holocaust.
The memorial stands at Pier 21, the Canadian Museum of Immigration, which is said to be the site where the MS St. Louis would have likely landed in Canada if it was allowed to do so.
The memorial includes the names of the passengers and the word 'hatred', 'xenophobia', 'racism', and 'antisemitism'.
This is the speech made by the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism where he joined the Canadian Jewish Congress and Daniel Libeskind at the unveiling of monument in 2011.

Citation

Canada. Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. ARCHIVED: Speaking notes for the Honourable Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P. Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism at the unveiling, at Pier 21, of the Wheel of Conscience, a monument to commemorate the MS St. Louis. [Halifax, Nova Scotia], January 20, 2011. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/archives/speeches-2011/jason-kenney-minister-unveiling-pier-21-wheel-conscience-monument.html

Further Readings

For more information on the Halifax Holocaust Memorial Monument: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/libeskind-memorial-to-jews-rejected-in-halifax-unveiled-1.1032629
& https://www.ctvnews.ca/tragedy-of-jewish-refugees-recalled-in-halifax-monument-1.598132
& https://libeskind.com/work/the-wheel-of-conscience/
& https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2011/01/minister-kenney-attends-unveiling-monument-ms-st-louis.html

Overlapping Topics

Culture, Religion & Ethnicity

Policy Sub-Topic

Anti-Semitism (Human Rights)

Policy Type

Ministerial Address

Prime Minister Trudeau Addresses the National Summit on Anti-Semitism

katherine — Fri, 17 May 2024 13:02:51 +0000

Prime Minister Trudeau Addresses the National Summit on Anti-Semitism katherine Fri, 05/17/2024 - 10:02

Prime Minister Trudeau Addresses the National Summit on Anti-Semitism

In July 2021, the Government of Canada hosted the National Summit on Antisemitism, which brought together legislators, policymakers, program administrators, and members of Canada's Jewish community to better understand the ongoing antisemitism in Canada.
This is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's address at the National Summit where he condemned the hate crimes occurring against Canadian Jewish communities, set the intentions of the summit, and discussed the current government initiatives combatting antisemitism.
This summit uncovered action items that the Canadian government can take to address the issues facing our Jewish communities.

Citation

"PM Justin Trudeau addresses National Summit on Anti-Semitism - July 21, 2021." Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC), July 21, 2021. Youtube video, 9:05. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExK9Mi2rRZw

Further Readings

For more information on the details of the National Summit on Anti-semitism (2021): https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2021/07/the-government-of-canada-to-host-national-summit-on-antisemitism.html
& https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/antisemitism-national-summit-1.6108509
& https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/speeches/2021/07/21/prime-ministers-remarks-national-summit-antisemitism
& https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YehgJ-41cS8
& https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2021/07/the-government-of-canada-concludes-national-summit-on-antisemitism.html

Overlapping Topics

Culture, Religion & Ethnicity

Policy Sub-Topic

Anti-Semitism (Human Rights)

Policy Type

Video

Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance & Combatting Antisemitism

katherine — Fri, 17 May 2024 13:00:47 +0000

Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance & Combatting Antisemitism katherine Fri, 05/17/2024 - 10:00

Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance & Combatting Antisemitism

In 2020, Canada appointed an inaugural Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named the Honourable Irwin Cotler as Canada's Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism.
Mr. Cotler has a longstanding history fighting racism, antisemitism, and hate and he has extensive experience in human rights and mass atrocities.
The role of Special Envoy involves leading the Canadian delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and working with other member countries to promote and strengthen Holocaust education, remembrance, and research.
The Canadian government announced in 2022 that they are committed to making the Special Envoy a permanent position.

Citation

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau. Prime Minister announced Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism. [Ottawa, Ontario], 2020. https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/11/25/prime-minister-announces-special-envoy-preserving-holocaust

Further Readings

For the news release announcing the reappointment of the Special Envoy and making it a permanent position: https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/11/29/prime-minister-announces-reappointment-special-envoy-preserving
& https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/antisemitism-envoy-permanent-1.6209079

Overlapping Topics

Culture, Religion & Ethnicity

Policy Sub-Topic

Anti-Semitism (Human Rights)

Policy Type

Prime Ministerial Address

Canada Signing the Ottawa Protocol

katherine — Fri, 17 May 2024 12:57:50 +0000

Canada Signing the Ottawa Protocol katherine Fri, 05/17/2024 - 09:57

Canada Signing the Ottawa Protocol

In 2010, Canada led the development and became the first country to sign the Ottawa Protocol on Combating Antisemitism in September 2011.
The Ottawa Protocol was developed as an international action plan intended to help nations measure their progress in fighting antisemitism.
The protocol was developed during the second annual conference of the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism, which took place in Ottawa in November 2010.

Citation

Canada. News Release. Canada becomes first country to sign the Ottawa Protocol. [Ottawa, Ontario], 2011. https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2011/09/canada-becomes-first-country-sign-ottawa-protocol.html

Further Readings

For the news release in November 2010 at the second annual conference of the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism (ICAA): https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2010/11/minister-kenney-opens-international-conference-combating-anti-8209-semitism.html

For access to the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism: https://www.cpcca.ca/

For more information regarding the events that led to the Ottawa Protocol: https://www.csce.gov/international-impact/ottawa-conference-strengthens-global-partnership-combat-anti-semitism?FuseAction=ContentRecords.ViewDetail&ContentRecord_id=480&Region_id=0&Issue_id=0&ContentType=G&ContentRecordType=G&IsTextOnly=True&CFID=21393592&CFTOKEN=32245568&page=32

For the contents of the Ottawa Protocol: https://www.crrf-fcrr.ca/en/news-a-events/articles/item/24188-ottawa-protocol-on-combating-antisemitism & https://thecjn.ca/news/ottawa-protocol-combating-anti-semitism/

Overlapping Topics

Culture, Religion & Ethnicity

Policy Sub-Topic

Anti-Semitism (Human Rights)

Policy Type

Press Release

Canada and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

katherine — Fri, 17 May 2024 12:53:48 +0000

Canada and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance katherine Fri, 05/17/2024 - 09:53

Canada and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

In 2009, Canada became a member of the International Holocaust Rememberance Alliance (IHRA) and became the chair in 2013.
During its Chairmanship, Canada introduced several things including the 'National Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education', a research guide utilizing materials from the National Library and Archives, and they supported Canadian Holocaust survivor testimonies through funding.
This Government of Canada Publication is an evaluation of Canada's membership in the IHRA with the purpose of determining how Canada's involvement has influenced education, remembrance, and research regarding the Holocaust.

Citation

Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Evaluation Division. Evaluation of Canada's Membership in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. May 2015. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2015/cic/Ci4-135-2015-eng.pdf

Further Readings

For more information on Canada's involvement with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/canada-holocaust/international-remembrance-alliance.html
& https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/member-countries/canada

Overlapping Topics

Culture, Religion & Ethnicity

Policy Sub-Topic

Anti-Semitism (Human Rights)

Policy Type

Department Report