Securing Restitution for
Canadian Holocaust Survivors
Innumerable Jewish homes, businesses and prop-
This ongoing cam-
erties seized by the Nazis and their collaborators
paign is based on
during WWII were never recovered, and countless
the 2009 Terezin Dec-
survivors have not been compensated for their
laration on Holocaust-Era
losses. In many European countries, laws allowing
Assets, which was approved
for restitution are non-existent or woefully inade-
by 46 countries (including Can-
quate. Poland, for example, has no restitution law
ada) and calls for just and fair solu-
for private real property that was confiscated in the
tions regarding the status of private,
Holocaust and later nationalized by the Commu-
communal and heirless property stolen
nist regime. This situation is particularly concern-
from Jews during World War II. It specifical-
ing given that, of the several
ly calls for relevant govern-
hundred thousand survivors
ments to “make every effort
around the world today, tens
of thousands live in poverty.
In June 2015, CIJA mobilized a
delegation of Jewish community leaders and Holocaust
survivors, affiliated with Cana-
Canada has played
a leading role in the
global effort to secure
restitution for survivors,
far too many of whom
live in poverty.
to provide for the restitution
of former Jewish communal
and religious property,” and
it advocates for expeditious
compensation for those who
lost property during the Holocaust and their heirs.
dian Jewish Holocaust Survivors
and Descendants, to ad-
Accordingly, in response to
vocate for restitution for Holocaust survivors from
CIJA’s request, the Government of Canada direct-
Eastern Europe. Working in concert with the World
ed Canadian diplomats in relevant countries to
Jewish Restitution Organization, CIJA’s delegation
raise the restitution issue with implicated govern-
met with diplomatic representatives from the Eu-
ments in early 2015. Strong statements of support
ropean Union, Romania, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia,
from all three major federal parties on this issue
Ukraine, Czech Republic and Serbia. CIJA later en-
affirm and underscore that Canada’s call for resti-
gaged the ambassadors of Poland, Latvia, Hungary
tution is backed by a non-partisan consensus. We
and Bulgaria as well.
are heartened by the government’s renewed commitment, as articulated in the Minister of Foreign
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs - Priorities
Canadian. Jewish. Advocacy.
Affairs’ statement on International Holocaust Re-
vivors and their families is a continuing priority
membrance Day 2016.
for Canada, which has played a leading role in this
global effort. Canadian diplomats should contin-
Approximately 40,000 Holocaust survivors built
ue to forcefully encourage their European counter-
new lives in Canada. Far too many of those alive
parts to pass laws that will provide restitution and
today live in poverty. Securing restitution for sur-
justice for the victims of the Holocaust.
KEY POINTS
•Countless survivors of the Holocaust have not been compensated for their losses, a particularly troubling
situation given that tens of thousands of those still alive currently live in poverty.
•Canada has played a leading role in the global effort to secure restitution for survivors, a continuing
government priority backed by non-partisan consensus.
•Canadian diplomats should continue to forcefully encourage their European counterparts to pass laws that
will provide restitution and justice for the victims of the Holocaust.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs - Priorities
Updated – May 9, 2016