Anti-semitism is Declining in Canada, Survey Shows; No Longer a Cause for Concern

Anti-Semitism does not present an immediate menace to the Jewish community of Canada today, according to a survey made public here by Saul Hayes, executive director of the Canadian Jewish Congress.

Mr. Hayes points out that overt acts of prejudice are rarer now than at any time since Hitler came to power, and, although there is no immediate cause for undue concern, the resources of the Canadian Jewish Community are mobilized currently in the defense of the Jewish position. Among the highlights of the survey are the following:

1. The assumption that anti-Semitism is more prevalent among French Canadians than among the English-speaking population is not valid; perhaps French-Canadians are more frank and inclined to admit prejudice than the Protestant Anglo-Saxon element.

2. So far as the bulk of French Canadians is concerned, the Jews are judged by the extent to which they align themselves with the French Canadians linguistically, culturally and politically.

3. Jews do occasionally encounter difficulty in buying and renting homes, although this cannot be considered a typical occurrence in Canada.

4. There is no discrimination in hotels in Canada except in vacation resorts. Discriminatory practices in Canadian resorts are roughly equal to the situation in the United States. Such practices appear to be increasing in frequency both in Ontario and Quebec.

5. Discrimination against Jews in social and business clubs again would be best described as running parallel to similar practices in the United States. There is no discrimination against Jews in civic organizations and public facilities.

In a foreword to the survey, Mr. Hayes mentions that in the years before the war, under the stimulus and with the assistance of foreign anti-democratic groups, there was waged an extensive and successful campaign to separate Canadian Jewry from the rest of the Canadian community by arousing hatred for the Jews. The effects of this campaign were widespread and lasted well into the war period.