“Seven decades after the liberation of Auschwitz, it remains as important as ever to remember and draw lessons from one of the darkest and most tragic periods of human history.
“On Yom HaShoah, Jewish communities in Canada, Israel, and around the world memorialize and honour the victims of the uniquely sadistic, brutal and rampant atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis. Today is an opportunity for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to never forget, and never permit another Holocaust to occur.
“Canadians are committed to doing our part to ensure that future generations learn the lessons of the Shoah, and we are determined to be at the forefront of the international fight against anti-Semitism, through our country’s active involvement in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), among many other initiatives.
“Our task is made only more urgent at a time when anti-Semitic incidents and Holocaust denial seem to be on the rise around the world, but our dedication and work in this area are resolute and will continue.
“As Minister for Multiculturalism, I encourage all Canadians to reflect today on the words of the author, Nobel laureate, and Auschwitz survivor Eli Wiesel:
“‘An immoral society betrays humanity because it betrays the basis for humanity, which is memory… A moral society is committed to memory.’”
