Calgary Jewish Federation

We applaud the Prime Minister for today’s apology, as well as MPs from all parties who stood in the House of Commons to endorse this historic initiative. A formal apology is a powerful statement to Holocaust Survivors and their families, including St. Louis passengers who live in Canada today.

The shameful decision by government officials to refuse to accept a single Jewish refugee aboard the St. Louis condemned hundreds to their deaths in the Holocaust. Extensive evidence has since revealed that the decision reflected antisemitic attitudes at senior levels of government, exemplified by Canada’s discriminatory “none is too many” policy toward Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis.

Canada has changed dramatically since 1939. All Canadians can be proud that our country is a leader in not only accepting refugees, but also in countering the global rise in antisemitism. Canada is a remarkable country not only because we strive to uphold the highest ideals, but also because we have the courage to confront moments in our history when we failed to do so.
 

We hope that the apology also sparks broader awareness about the threat posed by antisemitism today. As see in the heinous attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue and similar attacks in Europe in recent years, antisemitism persists and can motivate horrific acts of violence. Here in Canada, law enforcement officials and Statistics Canada consistently note that the Jewish community is the most frequently targeted religious minority when it comes to hate crime.

We applaud the Prime Minister, as well as MPs from across party lines, for committing today to do more to combat antisemitism. We look forward to working with the government to support a number of policies that will make a practical difference in this vital cause.