Letter to Montreal City Council not to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The BCCLA is unequivocally opposed to antisemitism and all forms of racism. We support municipal initiatives to combat racism, racial profiling, and racial targeting. However, we are strongly opposed to the IHRA definition because of its threat to freedom of expression. The legal adoption of the IHRA definition is inconsistent with the values underlying the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and would greatly narrow the scope of political expression in Quebec and Canada. If implemented, the IHRA definition will serve to severely chill political expressions of criticism of Israel as well as support for Palestinian rights. We note that similar motions were recently presented to both Vancouver and Calgary city councils but were not adopted in either city.

Read the full letter in English and French.