Following are the complete remarks given by Premier Wab Kinew at the Asper Campus on October 8:
As we mark this sombre anniversary, I express my solidarity with you, as does our government. We recognize the sharp rise in anti-Semitism here in Manitoba, where threats to places of worship, community centres, and campuses have left many Jewish Manitobans feeling unsafe expressing their identity. This past year has been challenging for many, but we stand together, united in rejecting all forms of hate and ensuring that everyone can live freely and without fear.
As you well know, Jewish people around the world celebrated the new year just a few short days ago. To commemorate that holiday, many of you would have wished friends, family, acquaintances a sweet and healthy new year. And on this occasion, which I think we sometimes struggle to find the right words, I think we’d all agree that hope for a better year is something we all hold in common.
This past year has been challenging. It’s been challenging here in Manitoba. It’s been challenging for friends and family members in Israel. And it’s been a test for many people here right at home in Manitoba. But I want to affirm that Manitobans are resilient. And that Jewish people here in Manitoba are resilient.
And so, As a leader of the provincial government, I want to acknowledge the difficulty that so many people here tonight have faced. I want to say the challenging moments of stress, worried about loved ones, the experiences of that tear down tide, of anti Semitism, that we’ve already heard mentioned here this evening, that we’ve got your back, and we will continue to support you through this difficult period.
There have been threats made to places of worship, to community centers, to schools, threats to students, who are just trying to step onto campus to pursue post secondary education. These things have no place in our Manitoba. And I also want to say on a personal level, one of the things that has really, really bothered me, are the reports from friends in the Jewish community who share experiences of being afraid to show outward, physical signs of your Jewish identity.
And that hits home for me because I am an indigenous man who wears my hair long as a sign of cultural pride and a signifier of my religious identity. And it has always been the vision of our ancestors on these lands that all people would be able to come here and be proud of who you are. And to hear the clapping in this moment for community members of the Jewish community causes me a lot of concern.
And of course if you feel some way about that as I do, then I think it’s incumbent on all of us to work together to counteract that. And so we are recommitting, as we have been throughout our time in government, to combat anti Semitism here in Manitoba. Today we gather to commemorate this one year anniversary of a tragedy, a terrible and brutal attack on innocent civilians in Israel. And while there were people with different nationalities and religions among the dead on that day, we can also say definitively that October 7th, 2023 was the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.
And so we join you in mourning. We join you in grieving and in observing and commemorating that anniversary. Leave it to strengthen our results. To build a pluralistic multicultural society here that has space for everyone and allows all people to be proud of who they are.
So I return here, this evening, a year later. We were with you just a few short days after the election, last year. And I return this evening to reaffirm what I told you last year. Israel has a right to exist, and that is non negotiable. And Israel has a right to defend itself. The hostages should be released immediately. I also want to say this. Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve to live in security, dignity, and peace. And peace.
Thinking about here at home, Manitoba is an exceptional province. It is a beautiful and welcoming place. And let me be clear, Manitoba’s Jewish community plays a very important role in welcoming people to this place. And as Premier, as your Premier, I am committed to ensuring that it stays that way. And I’m here to say that our team, all members of the Legislative Assembly, your Provincial Government, stand with you to ensure that all people can display their identity, including your Jewish identity, proudly.
Over the last year, we’ve established ongoing consultations between our government, myself as the leader of that government, and the leadership of the Jewish community. This strengthens us as an administration by assuring that we’re building safe spaces and reassuring that there’s no place for hatred in Manitoba.
I’m committed to ensuring that your government works to bring communities together from all across the province. And as we reject hatred, I also want you to know that our presence here this evening is about solidarity. If you look around you this evening and you see this tremendous crowd that is gathered here, I want you to know that the people that you have sent to the Manitoba Legislature are saying the same thing, whether through words or through our presence.
And that is this: Through this difficult year, going forward into the future, you are not alone. We stand with you. Shalom.
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