Trudeau appoints person responsible for Holocaust remembrance
Canada's former ambassador to Israel has a new position.
Amid another sharp escalation of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has decided to appoint a new special envoy for Holocaust remembrance and combating anti-Semitism. This position was taken by Deborah Lyons, who was Canada's ambassador to Israel from 2016 to 2020, and after that — the UN Secretary General's special representative for the stabilization of Afghanistan.
According to an official statement on the Prime Minister's website, anti-Semitism is unfortunately not a relic of the past, but part of everyday reality. Jews around the world — including Canada — have to live with it. Trudeau is convinced that the Jewish community should not fight this state of affairs alone, but should be assisted by the state.
So, what will be Lainos' area of responsibility? First and foremost, she will lead Canada's delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and as part of it, she will work to strengthen and promote Holocaust education, remembrance and research around the world. Second, she will focus on fulfilling Canada's commitments made at the International Holocaust Remembrance Forum in Malmö.
"Ms. Lyons will be a critical voice in fighting antisemitism and preserving the memory of the Holocaust so that younger generations know the truth about what happened – and how antisemitism continues today. We all must confront antisemitism, hatred, and intolerance in all its forms so we can build a better, safer future for everyone," Trudeau said.
Prior to Lyons, the position was held by Irwin Сotler, who was the first envoy for Holocaust remembrance and anti-Semitism. The position was established in 2020. Trudeau thanked Cotler for his work and especially for co-chairing the National Summit on Anti-Semitism.
