Ottawa, March 21, 2011 — The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, issued the following statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination:
“Today, countries around the world will recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. On this day in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in Sharpeville, South Africa.
“Unfortunately, manifestations of racism and other forms of hatred persist to this day. The government took a principled stance in combating one of the most pernicious evils – anti-Semitism - when Canada was the first country to withdraw from the United Nations’ Durban Review Conference, or Durban II 2009. Other countries followed our lead, and we will once again refuse to lend Canada’s good name to the Durban commemorative conference – the so-called Durban III – scheduled for September this year.
“As Canadians, we can be proud that we live in a peaceful democracy in which people from all different faiths and ethnic backgrounds can live together in harmony. Canada’s model of pluralism and tolerance has set an example for the rest of the world to follow.
“But we must also not be naive. Canada is not immune to racism; it is a type of hatred which undermines our efforts to build an integrated society. All forms of racism and discrimination are unacceptable and completely contrary to Canada’s fundamental values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Alykhan Velshi
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
