Canadian Supreme Court Decision on Sale of Property to Jews Hailed by Jewish Congress

The decision of the Supreme Court of Canada declaring illegal restrictive clauses in property deeds on grounds of race or religion was hailed today in a statement by Michael Garber, chairman of the national executive of the Canadian Jewish Congress.

The Supreme Court reversed the judgments of two Ontario courts and upheld the right of Mrs. Noble of London, Ontario, to sell to a Jewish resident of that city property in the Beach O’Pines area, in Southern Ontario, despite the opposition of neighboring property owners who maintained that a clause in the deed forbade the transfer of the property to Jews.

“The Supreme Court decision is the clear voice of democracy which will reacho in the hearts of the majority of Canadian citizens,” the leader of the Canadian Jewish Congress said. “Since the case came to the courts, several provincial legislatures have made it illegal to insert such discriminatory clauses in property deeds. The present ruling renders invalid such existing clauses in the Province of Ontario and will doubtless stimulate legislative and judicial action in this direction in other provinces of Canada. The Jewish community in this country considers this judgment a reaffirmation of the ideal of equality of all citizens within a democracy.”