Canadian Jewish Congress
Quebec Region
Parliamentary Mission 2004

Leaders of the Quebec Jewish community participated in a Parliamentary Mission with representatives of the Quebec Government, several cabinet ministers and  opposition party leaders at the National Assembly on December 2, 2004.

"We are Quebecers.  We share Quebec values and therefore, we should all be moving forward together and we will," said Quebec president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Jeff Boro. 

Some of the issues that were discussed were:  antisemitism, poverty, immigration, healthcare and education.

There have been over 100 antisemitic incidents in Quebec in the last year, ranging from racist comments to physical assault.  The delegates strongly urged the  political leaders to be cognizant of the increase in anti-Jewish sentiment and diffuse the situation by denouncing racism, intolerance and potentially inciting behaviour. 

At a meeting with the Minister of Relations with the Citizens and Immigration, Mme Michelle Courchesne, the community representatives raised such points as the difficulties associated with recognition of foreign credentials, a three month waiting period for medical coverage for new immigrants and the need to develop new programs to improve the integration of newcomers. 

Shellie Ettinger, Executive Director of JIAS Montreal, was part of the delegation and expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to highlight some of the issues on behalf of immigrants and refugees.