OTTAWA – On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the need for Canadians to reflect on the consequences of ignorance and hatred during a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony held at the National Holocaust Memorial in Ottawa. Speaking at this significant event, Carney acknowledged Canada's troubling complicity in the murder of millions of Jewish people during World War II, highlighting the nation's silence as a form of complicity.
Carney insisted that remembering this historical tragedy is essential to prevent such atrocities from occurring again. He remarked, “The liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau exposed the scale of Nazi crimes to the world and became symbols of the horrors of the Holocaust, the guilt of the enablers, and the resilience of the survivors.” He further articulated that “looking away is not a passive act, but an act of betrayal.” Holocaust Remembrance Day was established by the United Nations in 2005 to honor the millions of lives lost under the Nazi regime, with approximately six million Jews murdered in a state-orchestrated genocidal campaign between 1941 and 1945.
During the war, antisemitism was widespread in Canada, contributing to immigration policies that barred many Jewish refugees from seeking asylum in the country while fleeing the Nazis. According to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Canada accepted the smallest number of Jewish refugees of any Allied nation during this period. The federal government reports that around 40,000 Holocaust survivors settled in Canada after WWII.
Carney asserted that Canadians have a collective responsibility to remember and act upon the lessons learned from the Holocaust. He underscored the importance of supporting survivors and their families who continue to grapple with the lasting effects of these traumatic experiences. Recent data from law enforcement and Jewish organizations indicates a sharp increase in reports of antisemitic hate, including violent incidents like firebombings at Jewish schools and synagogues.
In light of these troubling trends, B’nai Brith Canada recently called on the federal government to initiate a commission focused on combating antisemitism, expressing concerns that more individuals are unfairly blaming all Jews for the policies of the state of Israel. Carney referenced the legislative efforts in Parliament surrounding Bill C-9, which aims to establish new offenses under the Criminal Code targeting intimidation related to religious or cultural institutions, as well as obstructing individuals trying to access these places. He commented, “We know these laws are tragically necessary, but they’re far from enough,” while noting that he is collaborating with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on this bill.
Poilievre echoed Carney's sentiments, stating that antisemitism is increasing both in Canada and globally. He pointed out that today’s manifestations of antisemitism are more often top-down, proliferating through academic institutions that promote negative sentiments toward Israel. He asserted that anti-Israel rhetoric often degenerates into antisemitism. Poilievre urged for a societal commitment to ensure that Jews can openly express their identities and beliefs without fear, stating, “We must stand up for the right of Jews to live safely, peacefully and openly... with a kippah on their heads, proudly proclaiming their Judaism and celebrating who they are as both Canadians and Jews.”
He concluded with a powerful statement: “When we do that, and when every single Jew feels safe and accepted in this country, then and only then will we have lived up to our oath – never again.” This event underscored the ongoing importance of remembrance and the critical need to combat antisemitism in contemporary society.
