When the word genocide comes to mind, the event that most likely resonates with people worldwide is the Holocaust. The German Nazis killed over 11 million Jews and other persecuted ethnic and religious groups under Adolf Hitler’s control. Many countries went to the aid of the Jewish Refugees: However, Canada was not one of them. Surprisingly to people who are familiar with this country in modern times, Canada claimed “the worst record among all the Western States" in accepting Jewish refugees into the country (“Canada” 275). Canada as a whole did not make enough efforts to save the Jews that were targeted by the Holocaust, and could have overcome the political, social, and economic forces in their country to do so.
Canada was not prepared
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Prices were going up, wages were going down, and unemployment was at all-time lows. Unemployment rates for young males in the booming city of Quebec reached 46%, according to results of a survey at the time (Belanger). The Canadian citizens harbored a deep fear of immigrants coming in and stealing what few jobs were left to take, leading to a hostility towards accepting any new people into the country, especially not Jews. Also, the social factors of the Jewish immigrant boycott were widespread and varied. During this period as well, the amount of Jews residing in Canada was very small. Anti-Semitism was rife throughout the country, especially in Quebec. Jews were discriminated against with restrictions in education, medical and law industries, and property ownership (Goldberg). This discrimination was primarily due to the differences of the Jewish religion to Roman Catholicism, the Canadian majority religion. Also, for a very long period during the war, Canadian citizens were sheltered from the monstrosities that were being committed. People knew that Jews were getting displaced by Hitler and his armies, but they were in the dark about concentration camps and the genocide until the war was almost over (“Reaction”). This meant that the Canadians were not entirely aware of how badly the Jewish refugees were in need of help. Economic and social factors were big contributors to the discrimination against the rescue of Jews from the Holocaust, albeit they should not have