Further Liberalization of Canadian Entry Laws to Include Dp’s Asked by Jewish Congress

The prospects for Jewish immigration to Canada, in light of the announcement last week by the Government that “first degree” relatives of Canadian residents will be admitted, were discussed here today at a meeting of the dominion council of the Canadian Jewish Congress.

Saul Hayes, executive director, reported that the Congress, working in consultation with non-Jewish organizations and with the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society, made repeated representations to the Canadian Government for a change in its immigration policy. Its suggestions were studied by the Cabinet and by a special Cabinet committee, resulting in promulgation of the order-in-council permitting the entry of close relatives of persons residing in Canada, which, however, was only one of the requests made by the Congress.

Emphasizing that the Congress has voiced its dissatisfaction with the extent of the measure, Hayes said: “We pointed out that there are many excellent people who were uprooted by the tragedy of war and that they deserve the opportunity to build their lives anew in freedom and peace in Canada. At present, through their homelessness, they constitute one of the grave international problems of the post-war world. Canada, which has so great a record of achievement in winning the war, is properly expected to act in alleviation of their plight.

“We shall continue to press for a favorable reply to these representations for the admission of displaced persons,” the director of the Congress continued. “We also ask that Canada liberalize its immigration laws which at present constitute closed doors. The new regulations can be welcomed only if they represent a step towards a more liberal immigration policy of the Dominion.” The full resources of the Congress and other community organizations, such as the Immigrant Aid Society, will be available to enable Jews here to bring in their relatives, Hayes said.