Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today issued the following statement on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day:

“Tonight as the sun sets, we will join Jewish communities and others in Canada and around the world to observe Yom HaShoah and remember the six million innocent Jews who were imprisoned, tortured and murdered at the hands of Nazis.

“The Holocaust, known as Shoah in Hebrew, is one of the darkest chapters in human history. We must all continue to work to ensure that its victims are never forgotten and that these atrocities never happen again.

“On this dark and dark day, I encourage all Canadians to listen to the stories of survivors, who keep the memory of the victims of the Holocaust alive. Last month, I had the honor of visiting the Platform 17 Memorial in Berlin, Germany, dedicated to those who were deported during the Holocaust, many of whom never returned.

“As Jews in Canada and around the world continue to face violence and hatred, the Government of Canada is working to counter the rise of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial. We are moving forward to deliver on our Budget 2022 commitment to change the criminal code to prohibit denial or minimization of the Holocaust in Canada. In Budget 2022, we also committed to providing continued funding to support Canada’s Special Envoy for Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Anti-Semitism and proposed investments in the renewal of Canadian Holocaust Museums.

“In 2021, the government hosted the first National Summit on Antisemitism identify actions the government can take to address key issues facing Jewish communities and has also done concrete promises at the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust remembrance and the fight against anti-Semitism. Additionally, we are developing a companion manual to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, which we adopted as part of the Anti-Racism Strategyand play a leadership role in advancing IHRA priorities.

“Despite the work in progress, there is still a lot to do. Today, modern anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial are also prevalent in the spread of disinformation on the internet and on social media. Through the Digital Citizen Initiativethe Federal Secretariat for Combating Racismand the International Interparliamentary Working Group to Combat Antisemitism Online, we address the challenges, threats and impacts of online hate, antisemitism and disinformation in Canada and around the world.

“We have a shared responsibility to continue to honor the victims of the Holocaust and to ensure that their stories continue to resonate with generations to come. Together, let’s all swear: “Never again”.