The Trudeau Government’s Fake Fight Against Antisemitism- Part 47

On June 20, 2022- The House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security submitted its report titled “The Rise of Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism in Canada”  

Recommendation No. 20 of the Report reads:   

“That the Government of Canada thoroughly reject the demonization and delegitimization of the State of Israel, and condemn all attempts by Canadian organizations, groups, or individuals, including university campus associations, to promote these views, both at home and abroad.”

In a letter dated October 18, 2022 addressed to the late Hon. Jim Carr, then the Chair of the Committee, Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety of Canada responded to this particular recommendation as follows:

“The Government takes note of this recommendation.” His explanation was as follows:

“Canada has been a steadfast friend and ally of Israel since 1948 and is proud to have been one of the first countries to recognize the State of Israel. Support for Israel, especially its right to live in peace and security with its neighbours, has been at the core of The Government of Canada’s Middle East policy since 1948. The Government of Canada is concerned by efforts, such as Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), to single out Israel for criticism and isolate Israel internationally.

Parliament clearly expressed its concern for the BDS movement when the House of Commons voted in large majority, on February 18, 2016, for a motion rejecting the movement. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada’s concerns when he condemned the BDS movement during the April 2019 state visit by the President of Israel, and at the May 7, 2019, National Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa.

The Government also recognizes that manifestations of demonization and delegitimization could be regarded as anti-Semitic when it targets the State of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity and denies the Jewish people their right to self-determination. To this end, as part of Canada’s national Anti-Racism strategy, Canada has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism and has committed to promoting it internationally.

In Budget 2022 Canada is investing $5.6 million over 5 years and $1.2 million ongoing to support the mandate of the Special Envoy for Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism. In October 2021, the Prime Minister pledged to make the Special Envoy a permanent position with dedicated funding. The Government has also taken other steps to fight antisemitism domestically. For example, a National Summit on Antisemitism was held in July 2021 and gave an opportunity to Jewish communities to share their lived experiences of antisemitism and provide input and feedback to inform Canada’s first ever National Action Plan on Combating Hate and a new Anti-Racism Strategy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, ministers, community leaders, and officials across all levels of government were in attendance.

Budget 2022 provides a $20 million commitment in 2022-2023 to PCH to support the construction of the new Holocaust Museum in Montreal as well as an investment of $2.5 million for the Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre. These two institutions will continue being instrumental in raising awareness on the Holocaust and fighting antisemitism. Recognizing that Canada’s fight against racism is far from over, Budget 2022 further proposes to provide $85 million over four years, starting in 2022-2023, to Canadian Heritage (PCH) to support the work underway to launch the new anti-Racism Strategy and a National Action Plan on Combating Hate.

Lastly, through Budget 2022, the Government proposes to amend the Criminal Code to prohibit the communication of statements, other than in private conversations, which wilfully promote antisemitism, by condoning, denying or downplaying the Holocaust.”

To be continued…