4 march 2012
TORONTO, ON – On February 23, 2012, the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 17, An Act to Proclaim the Month of May Jewish Heritage Month. The legislation received strong cross-party support, being introduced by Liberal MPP Mike Colle as a private member’s bill with co-sponsorship from Peter Shurman of the Progressive Conservative Party and Cheri DiNovo of the NDP.
Reacting to the Bill’s passage, David Spiro, Greater Toronto Co-Chair of The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the advocacy arm of Canadian Jewish Federations, issued the following statement:
“We commend all Members of the Ontario Legislature for establishing May as Jewish Heritage Month in Ontario, and we appreciate the swift passage of this cross-party initiative. For more than two centuries, the Jewish community has worked side-by-side with Ontarians from all backgrounds to help build one of the greatest places in the world to raise a family. Indeed, the values upheld by all Ontarians are values shared by our community. Just as Jewish Heritage Month offers an opportunity to reflect on our past, it serves as a reminder for all in our province to continue building on our collective achievements – for the benefit of the next generation of Ontarians.”
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is a non-partisan organization that creates and implements strategies for the purpose of improving the quality of Jewish life in Canada and abroad, increasing support for Israel, and strengthening the Canada-Israel relationship.
For more information, contact:
Jordan Kerbel
Deputy Director, Communications and Advocacy Training
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs