Ottawa Journal by David Tilson MP — Yom HaShoah is a solemn remembrance of the Holocaust

March 4, 2015 · 0 Comments

Yom HaShoah is a time to remember the horrifying atrocities of the Holocaust; it is a day of solemn remembrance.
Together, with Jewish communities in Canada and around the world, we pause to remember this tragic chapter in world history.
The unthinkable suffering and murder of innocent Jews and of the many others who were persecuted for their ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, disability or political views must never be forgotten or repeated. We take this occasion to pay tribute to the brave survivors, and we remember all those who died at the hands of the Nazis, particularly the nearly six million innocent Jewish men, women and children.
To ensure that these terrible crimes against humanity are never repeated, we have a responsibility to never forget these events and to remain vigilant against the hatred and discrimination that fueled them.
Canada is working to combat anti-Semitism at home and abroad. Holocaust education is essential to that goal. Our government is proud to be an international leader in Holocaust education, remembrance and research. Canada has joined the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and we were the first country to sign the Ottawa Protocol on Combating Anti-Semitism. We are also investing in Holocaust education programs and building a National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa, to serve as a memorial of the victims of the Holocaust, permanently keeping it in our nation’s consciousness.
Our government will continue to work to eliminate anti-Semitism in all its forms and we remain committed to educating future generations about the evil effects of prejudice.
This Yom HaShoah, we renew our commitment to remember these atrocities and to never allow them to be repeated. We also strengthen our resolve to defend and promote pluralism and tolerance, while standing up for Canadian values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.