WAS CANADA WELCOMING?
Why did Canada prevent Jews from immigrating before, during, and even after the Holocaust? One of the central reasons is antisemitism. Many Canadians did not see Jews as 'real' Canadians.
Canadian leaders enacted laws that limited the number of Jews who could move to Canada. Jews were denied the ability to live in certain areas, enter certain places, or learn at certain schools.
Use this section to understand how welcoming Canada really was to Jews before, during, and after the Holocaust.
PRE-WAR IMMIGRATION POLICY AND THE WORK OF THE CJC
Before the Second World War, Canadian leaders used The Immigration Act to restrict certain people from immigrating to Canada. The government changed the Immigration Act in 1919 to block immigrants because of their race, nationality, or religion. Canada still maintained these laws during and after the war.
Organizations like the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) worked hard to help Holocaust survivors come to Canada. The CJC lobbied the government to admit Jewish orphans and workers from DP Camps after the war. When they arrived, the CJC supported survivors as they adjusted to life in Canada.
THE MS ST. LOUIS
For many years, Canadian leaders stopped Jewish refugees from coming to Canada. In 1939, they refused to let the MS St. Louis dock in Halifax. The Jewish refugees who were fleeing Nazi Germany on board the MS St. Louis were sent back to Europe. Many were killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust. In 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized for Canada’s past actions. How do we come to terms with past injustices like this?