Mr. Speaker, I rise today with profound sadness to condemn recent acts of vandalism and hatred against Jews in Ottawa. Hate messages on Temple Israel, on a community centre and on a shopping mall reflect an ugly side of our community that we must not tolerate.
Whether it is the desecration of a synagogue, a mosque, a church or a temple we must speak out against the hatred that motivates the cowardly goons who perpetrate such crimes. It is a short step from a spray can of paint to the intimidation of children, the persecution of whole segments of our society or even more violent ways of expressing hatred.
Such actions are a betrayal of our most cherished value of pride in the diversity of religions, ethnic backgrounds, traditions, cultures and races with which we are lucky enough to share this nation. Our silence in the face of hatred against any group in our society would be a further betrayal.