Department of Justice

ANTI-SEMITISM NOT FOUND
IN WAR CRIMES SECTION

OTTAWA, March 27, 1998 -- The Department of Justice announced today that it has received the report of Professor John McCamus, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, who was asked to investigate allegations of anti-Semitism in the department’s war crimes unit.

In a 260-page report provided to the department, Prof. McCamus said he was unable to discover any evidence whatsoever of anti-Semitism in the work of the War Crimes Section during the term in question, nor any such evidence with respect to the managers responsible for its work. He has concluded that there is no basis in fact for the allegations made.

Professor McCamus was asked in April 1997 to undertake an independent investigation concerning the alleged existence of anti-Semitic sentiments within the War Crimes Section. His mandate was to review whether any statements made or feelings expressed by management within or outside the war crimes section in relation to the work of one of the counsel in the section would lead him to conclude there was anti-Jewish bias against this particular lawyer. He interviewed 73 people in the course of his investigation.

The government is continuing its policy of revocation of citizenship and or deportation in World War II cases. Under this policy a total of l4 revocation or deportation cases have been initiated since 1995 and more cases continue to be developed. The success of the current program is built on the work of the section since its inception in 1987.

A brief summary of allegations and conclusions of the investigator are attached.

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Information:    Wendy Sailman
                Communications and Executive Services
                (613) 957-4211