April 16, 2025
OTTAWA – Banning the public display of the Nazi Hakenkreuz and other Nazi symbols in our country gained newer and stronger momentum today after Ottawa City Council endorsed B’nai Brith Canada’s call in an historic motion.
The motion was put forward by Laine Johnson, Councillor for Ward 8. It was seconded by Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.
“I am proud to have Ottawa City Council join the national call for federal legislation banning these symbols of hate and genocide,” Johnson said. “My ward has the largest Jewish community in Ottawa and we have seen increasing incidents of antisemitism in our neighbourhoods.
“It’s time to push back against those who callously display these symbols in attempts to instill fear and intimidation.”
B’nai Brith Canada is delighted that Council in the nation’s capital has followed in the footsteps of the Province of Saskatchewan, the Durham Regional Council, and others by endorsing our call.
“We commend Ottawa City Council for passing a motion that clearly stands for Canadian values,” said Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Research and Advocacy. “There is no place for the Hakenkreuz and other symbols of the Third Reich in our public sphere. They are symbols of evil and representative of the worst of humanity.”
In mid-January, following an incident in Southwestern Quebec, B’nai Brith Canada launched a petition to ban the public display of the Hakenkreuz and other Nazi iconography. More than 10,000 people have signed the petition.
“The unanimous passing of this motion in our nation’s capital today demonstrates that Canadians support this important initiative,” Robertson said. “We call on other municipal and provincial governments to follow suit and endorse our call for a national ban on the public display of the Hakenkreuz.”
