June 8, 2022
OTTAWA – Independent Member of Parliament, Kevin Vuong, tabled a citizens’ petition (e-3858) in the House of Commons today, calling on the Government of Canada to prevent funding any non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that promote, or engage in, antisemitism.
The petition – initiated by a group of citizens from Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec – garnered 1,431 signatures and reads as follows:
“We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to ensure that the Government of Canada deny public funding or assistance to any domestic and foreign non-governmental organizations who promote or engage in antisemitism, as defined in the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.”
The citizens’ petition states that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism is a critical tool in combating hatred against Jews and that Canada had adopted the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, as part of its 2019-2022 Anti-Racism Strategy. It notes Canada’s deep commitment to fighting antisemitism, both at home and abroad, by convening a National Summit on Anti-Semitism in July 2021, and following the Summit, committed to taking a whole of government approach to combating antisemitism.
“Antisemitism is a global phenomenon, and its propaganda, rhetoric and violence abroad deeply affect Canadian Jews,” said Marvin Rotrand, B’nai Brith Canada’s National Director of its League for Human Rights. “The IHRA definition should be implemented to prevent funding NGOs whose work fans the flames of antisemitism.”
“The Government will have 45 days to return with a proposal in response to the petitioners. We urge it to reinforce its commitment to the IHRA definition, by preventing public funding of NGOs that violate the definition,” said Michael Mostyn, B’nai Brith’s Chief Executive Officer. “We thank MP Kevin Vuong for his work on behalf of the Jewish people. This is an important petition, and we appreciate that he championed it.”
