Canada reaffirms its commitment to fighting antisemitism and remembering victims of the Holocaust

News release

January 20, 2020 – Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Canada remembers and honours the more than 6 million Jewish people who were systematically murdered by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust. We honour the survivors, those who stood against the horrors of the Holocaust and countless others who suffered unimaginable hardship and loss.

On Sunday, Canada recommitted to the principles of the Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust and supported the adoption of the 2020 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Ministerial Declaration. The Government of Canada was represented by Rachel Bendayan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade.

Canada adopted the declaration along with 34 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) member countries at the IHRA Ministerial Meeting in Brussels, Belgium. This event marks the beginning of a year-long acknowledgement and commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camps.

At a time of rising antisemitism in Canada and around the world, education and remembrance of the horrors of the Holocaust are more important than ever. To do so, Canada is continuing its work to combat antisemitism with a $45 million investment in an anti-racism strategy announced by the government last year.

Quotes

“Canada will not forget the unimaginable horror that Holocaust victims and survivors endured. We remain driven to ensure history does not repeat itself. We will never accept the normalization of hate and will continue to work with our global partners to combat antisemitism.”

Rachel Bendayan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade

Quick facts

  • Approximately 40,000 Holocaust survivors resettled across Canada after the Second World War

  • January 27, 2020, marks the 75th anniversary of the Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation and the 15th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly-designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

  • The year 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of both the Stockholm Declaration on the Holocaust and the creation of the IHRA.

  • Canada has been an IHRA member since 2009. IHRA is an intergovernmental organization devoted to combatting antisemitism and promoting Holocaust education, remembrance and research. Canada chaired IHRA from March 2013 to February 2014.

  • Canada adopted IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism as a non-legally binding tool on June 25, 2019, as part of the anti-racism strategy.

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Contacts

Ryan Nearing
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade
ryan.nearing@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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