End the cover-up, release the names, says NDP’s Ashton

In reaction to the Heritage committee shutting down debate to protect the names of Nazis identified by the Deschênes report, NDP critic for Heritage Niki Ashton released the following statement:

“It’s beyond shameful that this Liberal government has, with Bloc support, decided that it’s more important to whitewash Canada’s sordid history of being a sanctuary for Nazis than deal with it.

Many organizations that represent victims of the Holocaust and their descendants, including Jewish, Polish and Ukrainian organizations have called for the list of alleged Nazis to be made public. The NDP will continue to fight for its release.

This is an absolutely shameful chapter in Canadian history. We refused to admit Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, many of whom became victims of the Holocaust and then went on to knowingly admit Nazis to Canada.

This week across Canada we remembered the many Canadians who fought and in many cases made the ultimate sacrifice in fighting against the Nazis. We vowed not to forget.

We must never forget what happened. Every day these names get shielded is another insult to our veterans who fought the Nazis and to victims and survivors of Nazism.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is on Monday, January 27th. Let’s hope that by then, Canada will do the right thing and release the names.”

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The text of the motion was the following:

Notice of Motion

Niki Ashton, MP

Monday, September 23, 2024

That, given that the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage regrets the continued protection given by the Minister of Canadian Heritage to the estimated 900 Nazis that were allowed to enter Canada after the Second World War by refusing to release their names and refusing to listen to organizations representing victims of the Nazis, the committee invite the Minister of Canadian Heritage to instruct Libraries and Archives Canada to release the names of the 900 Nazis before International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Monday, January 27, 2025, and that this motion be reported to the House.