At a ceremony in the Manitoba Legislature Building, the provincial government adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.

“Antisemitism has no place in our communities and today is an important step forward in our collective commitment to ensure we build an inclusive and safe society, and a future full of hope and opportunity for our future generations,” said Premier Heather Stefanson.

The definition was developed by the IHRA’s Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial, and is grounded in the research of the world’s foremost experts on antisemitism and the Holocaust. The definition has been adopted by the United Nations, the European Union and 30 countries including the United States and Canada. Manitoba is the sixth province to adopt the definition.

“Today, Premier Stefanson and the Manitoba government sent a strong message that antisemitism has no place in society,” said Gustavo Zentner, president, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg. “To combat antisemitism effectively, it must first be defined. The IHRA definition will help Manitobans identify and combat antisemitism in all its forms. With antisemitic hate crimes on the rise across the country, fighting antisemitism is a priority, not just for the Jewish community, but for all Manitobans and for all Canadians.”