Jews de not want to be officially recognised as a minority in Canada, with special minority rights, since they regard themselves as “Canadians of Jewish origin, and nothing more or less”, Mr. Peter Berkovitch said in the Quebec Provincial Legislature yesterday, when the new Jewish School Bill came up before the Public Bills Committee of the Lower House. Mr. Joseph Cohen, the other Jewish member of the Legislature agreed with Mr. Bercovitch’s views.
The creation of an official Jewish minority in the Province of Quebec for school purposes is not in the interest of all parties concerned, the Provincial Secretary, Mr. L. A. David, said during the discussion on the bill. Constitutionally, he said, there is only one minority in Canada, and that is the French-Canadian. Mr. David went on to add that it would be dangerous and inopportune to create another minority in the country.
After a short discussion the new Jewish School Bill, which replaces last year’s bill which had given the Jews the right to establish their own schools, was sent back to the House for further consideration.
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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.
