Ottawa, November 7, 2010 - Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney today opened the second annual conference of the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism (ICCA).
"On behalf of the Government of Canada and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, I would like to welcome the parliamentarians, dignitaries and experts who are here to address this crucial issue," said the Minister at an opening reception of the Conference.
"By supporting this conference, the Government of Canada is engaging the global community in the struggle against hatred and helping to lead the fight against anti-Semitism, a uniquely durable and pernicious form of hatred."
Representatives from more than 45 countries, covering six continents, are attending the Ottawa conference, which begins today and ends November 9, the 72nd anniversary of Kristallnacht, when Jewish homes and properties were attacked in Germany and Austria in 1938.
Similar to the London model, a related conference of experts and dignitaries, called the Experts' Forum, coincides with the ICCA parliamentarians' conference.
The Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism (CPCCA), formed in March 2009, is assisting with organization of the events in Ottawa.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Celyeste Power
Minister's Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
ICCA:
Matt Salvatore
Fleishman-Hillard Canada
matt.salvatore@fleishman.ca
613-288-3272
