March 22, 2021

Press Release: Mayor Plante Fails to Act, Avoids Accountability

Montreal, QC – Today, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante once again failed to put her words into action and follow through on her commitment to take concrete action in the fight against antisemitism by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Monday's City Council meeting concludes a year of inaction by the Mayor and her administration on antisemitism in Montreal. Over 3,000 emails, and letters from Jewish and other groups representing Montreal's diversity have held the Mayor to account and reinforced the importance of adopting the IHRA definition as an effective tool in the fight against antisemitism.

In response, Eta Yudin, Quebec Vice President, CIJA, issued the following:

"It takes more than words to fight antisemitism and racism. To repeat the same promises again and again is meaningless in the face of inaction, and unbecoming of a leader. The Jewish community has taken the Mayor at her word, and after a year of foot-dragging she continues to hide behind her office, as she does on other issues. Her silence sends a very troubling message to Montrealers."

Federation CJA CEO, Yair Szlak added:

"In recent months Paris, Nice, Ontario and the Biden administration have joined Canada and other enlightened jurisdictions throughout the world in taking concrete steps by adopting the IHRA working definition of antisemitism. For more than a year Montreal has been dormant in the face of mounting antisemitism. The Mayor's inaction on this front, on the eve of Yom HaShoah, the day of commemoration for victims of the Holocaust, is a blemish on our city's reputation and hurtful to the dwindling number of Survivors who call Montreal home."

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) is the advocacy agent of the Jewish Federations of Canada, including Montreal's Federation CJA.