“Today, we honour the memory of the six million victims who were brutally murdered by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the survivors of these atrocities and with the Jewish people worldwide in our pledge to never forget such evils.
We keep alive the memories of those lost and we celebrate the great strength and resilience of the survivors in the face of unspeakable acts of cruelty and violence.
I encourage all Ontarians to take time to listen to the stories of survivors, learn from them, and grieve with those who lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy. We must also continue to pass their stories down to future generations, so it is never forgotten, and it is never allowed to happen again.
The Holocaust reminds us of the importance of remaining on our guard and defending our democracy, our fundamental human rights, and our freedoms. When we see acts of anti-Semitism, intolerance, hatred, or discrimination towards others, we must stand up and declare without hesitation that it has no place in our society. We must never stay silent or indifferent in the face of hate.
Together, let us continue to build an Ontario, strong in its diversity and unwavering in its commitment to tolerance and inclusion.”