Canada Achieves Full Membership in the Holocaust Task Force

OSLO, NORWAY, Jun 24 (MARKET WIRE) --
Canada is now a full member of the Task Force for International
Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research (ITF),
Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney
announced today.

Canada's application for full membership was accepted during the ITF's
plenary session earlier today.

"Membership in this important body provides Canada with an opportunity to
work internationally to combat racism and anti-Semitism," said Minister
Kenney. "This Government believes it is critically important to be
engaged in efforts to teach future generations the lessons of the
Holocaust and help prevent future acts of genocide."

In order to become a full member, Canada had to complete a baseline study
on the current state of Holocaust education, remembrance and research in
Canada and complete a project in liaison with ITF members.

For its liaison project, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and B'nai
Brith Canada, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, the
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Holocaust Museum, and the
Memorial de la Shoah, hosted a conference in Toronto entitled, The St.
Louis Era: Looking Back, Moving Forward. This conference examined
Canada's actions and attitudes before and during World War II, including
our country's refusal in 1939 to provide a place of refuge to passengers
aboard the MS St. Louis, some of whom, tragically, later perished in the
Holocaust.

At the conference, Minister Kenney also announced funding toward the
creation of a National Task Force on Holocaust Research, Remembrance and
Education.

As a full member in the ITF, Canada has committed to promoting the
Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust through
appropriate forms of Holocaust remembrance, while encouraging research
and enhancing education about the Holocaust.

The ITF is an international organization devoted to placing political and
social leaders' support behind the need for Holocaust education,
remembrance and research, both nationally and internationally. The
organization provides funding for Holocaust-related projects around the
globe, including training programs, books, publications, and educational
material. With Canada's acceptance as a full member, the ITF now consists
of 27 member countries.

Contacts:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Alykhan Velshi
Minister's Office
Alykhan.Velshi@cic.gc.ca

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Media Relations Unit
Communications Branch
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca

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