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PM Trudeau Apologizes for Parliament's Recognition of Nazi Veteran During Zelenskyy Visit
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized earlier today for Parliament's recognition of a man who fought for a Nazi unit during the Second World War. "This was a mistake that has deeply embarrassed Parliament and Canada," said Trudeau, calling the incident a "horrendous violation" of the memory of the millions of people who died in the Holocaust.
The apology came after MP Anthony Rota stepped down from his role as Speaker of the House Commons, following his apology for inviting a former member of a Nazi military unit to Parliament. FSWC welcomed the resignation and called for the Procedure and House Affairs Committee to launch public hearings to investigate the vetting failures and measures needed to ensure a similar incident does not happen again.
Jewish Groups Demand Action Following Standing Ovation for Nazi Veteran
FSWC President and CEO Michael Levitt sat down with Global News' Caryn Lieberman this week to discuss the organization's reaction to the recent invitation to and recognition of a Nazi war veteran in Canada's Parliament and the actions the government needs to undertake. "We've called for a parliamentary committee to hold public hearings to get to the bottom of how did it happen and how can we ensure that it doesn't happen again," said Levitt.
Poland Wants to Extradite Canadian-Ukrainian Man Who Served in Nazi SS Unit
Poland's Education Minister announced Tuesday that he has taken steps toward eventually extraditing Yaroslav Hunka, the Ukrainian-Canadian Nazi war veteran who was recognized in Canada's Parliament last week.
Judge Sentences Montrealer to 15-Month Prison Term for Spreading Hate Against Jews
Gabriel Sohier Chaput, who was convicted of wilful promotion of hatred against Jews earlier this year, was sentenced Friday to 15 months in prison and an additional three years of probation. In an online post, FSWC welcomed the sentencing decision, thanking all members of the Jewish and allied communities involved in monitoring and testifying against Sohier Chaput, and the judge who recognized the severity of the crime.
Posters for 'Whites-Only' Parent-and-Child Group in Metro Vancouver Draw Outrage
Posters advertising a "whites-only" social group for mothers and children was recently discovered in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, BC. A joint statement by the City of Port Coquitlam and Mayor Brad West said, "This vile garbage isn't welcome in our community, or anywhere else." The BC RCMP confirmed with Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, which condemned the posters online, that an investigation is underway.
Barbara Kay: The Cotler Family's Fight Against the 'Vicious Circle' of Antisemitism
National Post columnist Barbara Kay recently spoke with Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Israel's recently appointed Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism, who follows in the footsteps of her father and renowned human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler. Discussing antisemitism and anti-Zionism, Cotler-Wunsh said it will be part of her mandate to “connect the dots” between the tropes of traditional and contemporary antisemitism.
Jewish Leaders on Right and Left Call on Tech Companies to Boycott Musk Over X/Twitter Antisemitism
One hundred Jewish leaders and influencers drawn from both the political left and right have published an open letter calling for an end to antisemitism on the X platform, declaring that since Musk's takeover, the platform has "become a breeding ground for some of the most dangerous antisemitic discourse in America." The letter ended with a call on those tech companies working with Musk to end their partnerships.
Israeli Teen Drama About Holocaust Trip to Poland Nominated for International Emmy
Kol Od Balevav (Memory Forest), a Kan educational drama series about an Israeli teen trip to Poland, was nominated Tuesday for an International Emmy in the Kids: Live Action category.
Israel Expands Holocaust Testimony Project, Allocates NIS 7 Million
The Israeli government has allocated a budget of over NIS 7 million for the Holocaust survivors' documentation project, a significant initiative aimed at creating a lasting memorial for Holocaust survivors through the collection of photographs. This comes after the government initiated Resolution 1916 in 2022, with the goal of collecting photographic testimonies from Holocaust survivors worldwide.
Report Antisemitism and News of Concern to FSWC
If you would like to report antisemitism or news of concern to Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, please email advocacy@fswc.ca.
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