For Immediate Release
July 24, 2003, Toronto — B’nai Brith Canada will be present to monitor the Zundel hearing set to resume Monday, July 28. The Trial Division of the Federal Court will first hear Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel’s constitutional challenge to the security certificate provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. “Zundel’s attempt to assert that his right to life, liberty, and security of the person, as protected by section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms have been infringed by the security certificate process is doomed to fail.” stated Rochelle Wilner, President of B’nai Brith Canada.
The certificate, signed by the Solicitor General and the Citizenship and Immigration Minister, declares Zundel a threat to the security of Canada and sets the stage for his deportation to Germany where he faces charges of inciting hatred. The Federal Court judge is currently reviewing the certificate. If the certificate is deemed to be reasonable, a removal order will be in place that cannot be appealed. Prior caselaw would suggest that the Federal Court does not have jurisdiction to hear the constitutional challenge, but even if it does, Zundel’s prospects for success are slim, as the Supreme Court of Canada has previously upheld the constitutionality of similar security certificates.
Frank Dimant, Executive Vice President, commented “B’nai Brith Canada remains confident that the Court will view this stalling tactic for what it is — just one more desperate and baseless attempt to further delay Zundel’s removal from Canada. The present Act was crafted to ensure the timely removal of security threats from Canada. It is abundantly clear that Zundel and his hatred have no place in a country that values diversity, tolerance and multiculturalism.”
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For further information contact: Joseph Ben-Ami, Director of Communications at 613-294-7313
B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the community’s foremost advocacy and volunteer organization.
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