Toronto (October 13, 2021) – Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) commends the Government of Canada for its numerous pledges put forward today at the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism, as part of its commitment to fight antisemitism and promote Holocaust awareness.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - who led a Canadian delegation that included Stéphane Dion, Special Envoy to the European Union and Europe and Canada’s Ambassador to Germany, and Irwin Cotler, Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism – spoke virtually at the forum and shared several of Canada’s pledges.

The pledges include establishing the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism as a permanent position, supported by increased resources, supporting and promoting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, engaging with Jewish communities in the development of Canada’s National Action Plan on Combatting Hate, and expanding Holocaust remembrance education materials and bringing awareness to the dangers of antisemitism.

During Canada’s National Summit on Antisemitism in July, FSWC called for increased funding and resources to be provided to support Special Envoy Irwin Cotler’s office as well as for Canada to actively promote the adoption and implementation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

“As we see the increased resurgence and mainstreaming of antisemitism in Canada and around the world, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s participation in this meaningful international forum to combat antisemitism and promote Holocaust awareness is very important and sends a strong message that the country stands united with its Jewish community and is serious about taking action,” said Michael Levitt, president and CEO of FSWC. “Canada’s pledges to support Special Envoy Irwin Cotler and further promote the IHRA definition of antisemitism are particularly critical and impactful in the fight against virulent Jew-hate.”