The Canadian parliament approved in principle a government measure aimed at preventing discrimination in employment and membership in trade unions based on race, national origin, color or religion. The bill will apply to all employment in Canada coming under Federal jurisdiction, such as the railways, shipping, communications, and other inter-provincial industries.
The Socialist member for Winnipeg North, Alistair Stewart, declared that the measure was “something of a landmark in Canadian labor history,” He also expressed the hope that the legislation would help overcome prejudice against persons of Jewish faith. “I have found discrimination against the Jewish people in every walk of life in Canada, from the universities down through every occupation,” he said. “Yet who is there to deny that the Jews have made a most distinguished contribution to Canadian life and culture.”
The measure was welcomed by representatives of all groups in the Canadian Parliament. David Croll, one of the two Jewish members of the Canadian Parliament, who has long fought for such a measure, welcomed the bill as “the latest step in reducing racial and religious discrimination in this country.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
