The Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Andrew Scheer, issued the following statement on Yom HaShoah:
“Today at sundown, we pause to reflect on the horrors of the Holocaust and remember the six million Jewish lives that were shattered and taken away by the Nazi regime. And while doing so, we also honour all of the survivors and recognize the righteous individuals who risked their lives to save others.
The Holocaust was one of the darkest chapters in the history of humanity. We must never forget the lessons that it taught us and we must always re-dedicate ourselves to the fight against the prejudice and hatred that led to such cruel barbarity and inhumanity.
It is our duty to learn from the past, so that we can pass the torch onto our children. This is why, each year, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that such crimes never happen again.
Canada’s Conservatives have always supported Holocaust education and remembrance both in Canada and across the world. We have always stood against acts of anti-Semitism, including all attempts to delegitimize Israel as a nation.
We will always defend Israel’s right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people.
Movements of hatred and intolerance towards others have no place in our world. As we commemorate those who perished, let us renew our vow to always fight for the fundamental rights, freedoms and dignity of all men and women.
On this day, I encourage all Canadians to participate in honouring the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, and to make a sincere commitment to ‘never again’.”