PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday announced that he will deliver a formal apology in the House of Commons over the fate of the MS St. Louis and its passengers.

On May 13, 1939, the MS St. Louis departed Germany with close to a thousand passengers, including 907 Jewish German citizens desperate for safety and refuge from persecution. The Jewish refugees on board were not allowed to disembark at the ship’s first destination, Cuba, and were subsequently denied entry into the United States and, finally, Canada, due to its discriminatory “none is too many” immigration policy of the time. The refugees were forced to return to Europe, where many were condemned to concentration camps and 254 of the passengers were murdered during the Holocaust.

Trudeau made the announcement while speaking at the March of the Living’s 30th anniversary gala. The March of the Living is an annual educational program for students to travel to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp as a tribute to the survivors and victims of the Holocaust and the strength and resilience of the Jewish community.

Trudeau said: “When Canada denied asylum to the 907 German Jews on board the MS St. Louis, we failed not only those passengers, but also their descendants and community. An apology in the House of Commons will not rewrite this shameful chapter of our history. It will not bring back those who perished or repair the lives shattered by tragedy. But it is our collective responsibility to acknowledge this difficult truth, learn from this story, and continue to fight against anti-Semitism every day, as we give meaning to the solemn vow: ‘Never again.’ I look forward to offering this apology on the floor of the House.”

THE Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) commended Trudeau on his announcement regarding a formal apology in the House of Commons. In response, CIJA CEO Shimon Koffler Fogel issued the following statement:

“We applaud the Prime Minister for committing to formally apologize in the House of Commons for the St. Louis incident – a shameful example of Canada’s ‘none is too many’ policy toward Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution.

“Canada is extraordinary not only because we strive to uphold the highest ideals, but also because we have the courage to address moments in our history when we failed to do so. Today’s announcement builds upon the previous government’s decision to erect the Wheel of Conscience at Pier 21 in Halifax, as a reminder of the lessons we must learn from this painful incident. 

“A formal apology will be a powerful statement to Holocaust survivors and their families, including St. Louis passengers who live in Canada today. It will also affirm Canada’s continued vigilance in the ongoing fight against antisemitism.”