Evaluation of Canada’s Membership in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
4. Conclusions and recommendations
The evaluation found that there is a continued need for Canada to be a member of the IHRA and that membership in the IHRA is aligned with Government of Canada, CIC and the Office of Religious Freedom priorities and with the role of the federal government with respect to the promotion of multiculturalism.
Immediate and intermediate outcomes associated with Canada's membership in the IHRA, and in particular the domestic and international objectives set out for Canada's Chair Year have largely been achieved. Canada has contributed to the IHRA and has demonstrated leadership in Holocaust remembrance, research and education activities through its membership.
While Canada has been successful in achieving these outcomes over the past five years, the evaluation found that there is some concern, particularly among Canadian delegates, that Canada has not articulated how it will continue to meet its commitments as a member of the IHRA. Also, given that the Office of Religious Freedom has assumed the role of Head of Delegation, accountabilities should be more clearly defined between the two departments. As a result of these concerns, it is recommended that:
Recommendation 1: CIC should clearly establish, in collaboration with the Office of Religious Freedom, their respective accountabilities and roles and responsibilities in meeting Canada's commitments associated with membership in the IHRA. This should also include:
- clarification of commitments and expected results under the IHRA with respect to working group and plenary meeting preparation and participation; and
- support to the delegation of experts and promotion of Holocaust education, remembrance and research domestically and internationally.