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Manitoba Lawyers Vote Against Meeting in Clubs Practicing Bias

June 9, 1966
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The Manitoba Law Society, an association representing attorneys of all faiths in the province, has approved a motion asking its governing body to avoid holding meetings in public places which practice bias. The resolution did not identify such places by name but society members made it clear that the Manitoba Club here, which has been repeatedly accused of barring Jews, was meant.

The motion was approved by about 50 members attending the society’s annual meeting. Justice Samuel Freedman, of the Manitoba Court of Appeal lauded the motion, declaring that the Manitoba Club had an unwritten policy of discrimination. He said the society, as an organization of persons of all races and religions could quite justifiably refuse to subsidize a club which practices discrimination.”

In 1959, the Winnipeg City Council ended a practice of paying membership dues for three civic officials after it was pointed out that the club practiced a “gentleman’s agreement” to bar Jews. During a discussion in the Manitoba Legislature in 1963, Premier Duff Roblin and opposition leader Gildas Molgat told the House they decided against membership in the Manitoba Club because of its biased membership policies.

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