Minister Kent Marks the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

January 27, 2010

Ottawa, ON – The Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas) and Member of Parliament for Thornhill, today issued the following statement to mark the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the UN International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust:
 
“Today we pause to remember and honour the victims of one of the darkest chapters in human history that extinguished the innocent lives of millions during World War II. We must reassert our commitment to human rights and a society which respects and celebrates the value of diversity. The notion of universal dignity and equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens is embraced by Canadians and our different cultures live peacefully together. 

“But we must continue to be vigilant.  Although the horrors of the Holocaust are well-known, even today propagators of hate like President Ahmadinejad of Iran have expressed doubts about the authenticity of the Holocaust and questioned whether it was a “real event”. I was recently in Venezuela, speaking with Jewish community leaders and touring their synagogue, which was targeted by antisemitic vandals last year, listening to concerns about their safety and security. The number of antisemitic incidents happening around the world and here at home is increasing and it is a sobering fact that Jews around the world are in as much danger today as they were almost 70 years ago.

“Today’s commemoration serves as a reminder to ensure the lessons of the Holocaust are not forgotten. Our government has taken a principled stance in combating Holocaust denial and antisemitism. Recently, Canada co-sponsored two UN resolutions that led to the recognition of January 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust and a second which condemned denial of the Holocaust. Last June, Canada was granted honoured status as a full member of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research.


“As part of the ongoing process of Holocaust education, I’ve had great opportunities to work with my parliamentary colleagues and constituents. I am proud to participate as a member of the Inquiry Panel for The Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism (CPCCA), which has allowed me to work to confront and combat antisemitism in Canada today.

“I have also been working with one of my constituents and my colleague Tim Uppal, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Sherwood Park to advance a Private Member’s Bill advocating the creation of a Holocaust Memorial in Ottawa. It would stand to ensure the Holocaust continues to have a permanent place in our nation’s consciousness and memory and as an exhortation to never let such crimes against humanity on such a scale happen again.

”All forms of racism, discrimination and intolerance are equally unacceptable and completely contrary to Canada’s fundamental values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Let today serve as a reminder to pause and reflect on what can happen when racism, prejudice and exclusionary behaviour go unnoticed and unchallenged.”