David Tilson MP — Federal government remembering the horrors of the Holocaust

April 9, 2014 · 0 Comments

Our government joins all those observing Yom HaShoah April 27 in paying homage to the memory of victims of the Holocaust.
Together, we remember the countless innocent people who suffered and died at the hands of the Nazis, including the nearly six million Jewish men, women and children.
These terrible crimes against humanity must never be repeated. On this occasion of solemn remembrance, our government joins the Jewish community, at home and abroad, in renewing our vow to never forget, and our commitment to fight against racism, discrimination and anti-Semitism.
Under our government’s leadership, Canada joined and chaired the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, an intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting Holocaust education, remembrance and research.
Canada was the first country to sign the Ottawa Protocol on Combating Anti-Semitism, an important action plan to further global efforts in the fight against anti-Semitism. It reaffirms the United Nations’ 1948 Genocide Convention, supports the establishment of an international task force to identify and monitor hate online, and supports the development of a comprehensive system to record all hate crimes.
We are also moving forward with the construction of a National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa that will commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, while educating visitors and helping ensure that the Holocaust has a permanent place in our national consciousness.
After generations of persecution, the Jewish people deserve to live peacefully and safely in their homeland. This is why our government has demonstrated our unwavering support for Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. In Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s historic address to Israel’s Knesset, he reaffirmed this position stating that it is, “a Canadian tradition to stand for what is principled and just, regardless of whether it is convenient or popular.”
Canada and Israel have a strong relationship anchored in our shared values and interests, and we are working together to advance our common interests, which include the promotion of human rights globally.
Our government is absolutely committed to the promotion and protection of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. We are utilizing our prominence on the world stage to be a strong voice on issues of human rights and equality. What’s more, we created the Office of Religious Freedom to promote Canadian values of pluralism and tolerance in our global community, by working with like-minded partners to develop policies and programs to protect religious minorities under threat.
This Holocaust Memorial Day, we share in the grief of this tragedy, as we remember the horrors of the Holocaust and with great determination remain committed to never letting such atrocities take place again.