TORONTO, – B’nai Brith Canada has praised the continued leadership shown by the Government of Canada following the signing of the Ottawa Protocol on Combating Antisemitism by Ministers Jason Kenney and John Baird. The Protocol, which emanated from an international gathering of parliamentarians hosted by Canada last year, reaffirmed the London Declaration on Combating Antisemitism as a template for fighting against anti-Jewish prejudice. The Protocol reaffirmed a commitment to institute tangible measures to combat antisemitism in all its forms, from the classic anti-Jewish blood libels of medieval times to newer manifestations of this age-old hatred, which are now masked in the language of anti-Zionism.
“Canada is the first country to formally sign on to the Protocol and this shows the ongoing leadership and commitment this Government has shown to combat the all forms of antisemitism. It clearly recognizes that antisemitism is an ongoing threat here in Canada as it is around the world,” stated Frank Dimant, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada. “Those who demonstrated outside the reception that marked the signing of the Protocol last night to protest against Israel only proved that the parliamentarians were right to recognize that the type of anti-Israel activity which seeks to deny the Jewish people, alone out of all nations, the right to self determination in their ancestral homeland, is indeed a form of antisemitism as set out in these Protocol.
“We are proud to work with this Government, which continues to show its commitment to countering antisemitism by putting measures in place to counter this scourge facing all humanity.”
