The Canadian Jewish Congress is asking Parliament to amend and strengthen the laws against spreading racial and religious hate propaganda.
A four-member CJC delegation, appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Racial Minorities, proposed, among other things that the word “wilfully” be deleted from the criminal code dealing with hatemongers in order to facilitate their prosecution.
The CJC deputation pointed out that Canada has the unenviable reputation of being the largest exporter of anti-Semitic propaganda materials to West Germany because of inadequate controls. Most of the material originates with and is distributed by Ernst Zundel who operates in Toronto under the corporate name, “Samisdat.” His literature denies that the Holocaust ever occurred.
Weaknesses in the law also permitted Toronto clergyman Paul Melnichuk to preach anti-Semitic sermons from his pulpit, accusing Jewish businessmen and professionals of cheating, the Parliamentary Committee members were told.
The CJC delegation asked that the criminal code be amended to apply special sanctions against vandals who desecrate cemeteries and houses of worship; that better monitoring bodies be established to record racist acts and public complaints about them; and that anti-discrimination clauses be inserted into contracts for federally and provincially funded projects.
The deputation was headed by Milton Harris, president of the CJC, and included Alan Rose, vice president, Frank Schleslinger, chairman of Quebec community relations, and Sharon Wolfe, special committee chairman.
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