It sets  out an action plan for supporting initiatives that combat  anti-Semitism and provides a framework for other nations to  follow.  It also sets out a vibrant definition of anti-Semitism which, for the first time in history, links  anti-Semitism to the denial of the right Jewish people have  to their ancestral home land -- the State of Israel. This,  in fact, is what sets post-World War Two anti-Semitism apart  from its historic roots. Today's anti-Semitism is all about  denial: denial of the legitimacy of Zionism as a Jewish  movement to reclaim the land of Israel; denial of a Jewish  history in connection to the holy land and, in particular,  the centrality of Jerusalem to the Jewish people; denial of  the Holocaust (while at the same time accusing Jews of  Nazism); and denial of Jews to live free of anti-Semitism,  hate and intolerance.  In announcing the Protocols,  Foreign Minister John Baird has expressed his government's  unequivocal support for the State of Israel. In referring to  this week's turmoil at the United Nations and the  Palestinian threat to unilaterally declare a state, Baird  said, "Canada will not stand behind Israel at the United  Nations, we will stand right beside it. It is never a bad

thing to do the right thing."

  According to Baird,  more and more countries are refusing to participate in the  UN conference dubbed "Durban III" -- otherwise known as an anti-Semitic hate fest which began as a human rights forum  in South Africa in 2001; the forum ultimately degenerated  into an anti-Semitic slinging match in which repressive Arab  and African countries blamed all the problems facing their  own countries and the world on Israel. The governments of  France, New Zealand and Poland (today) joined Canada and 10  other western nations this week by declaring they will not  take part.

  Unquestionably, the Government of Canada's  stance on Israel is based on the principle of standing by  your friends -- especially when they are democracies and  advocates for human rights. Most Jewish leaders would agree  that Israel is indeed Canada's greatest ally in the fight  against hate and intolerance. But the fight against  hatred and anti-Semitism must be won here in Canada as well.  The Ottawa Protocol is mostly the result of a report  published this summer by a Canadian Parliamentary Coalition  to Combat Anti-Semitism which was comprised of leading  Canadian politicians who volunteered their time to probe the  increasing and alarming tide of anti-Semitism in  Canada.  In a letter accompanying the report, Chairs  of the Inquiry Panel and the Steering Committee Mario Silva  and Scott Reid wrote, "The Inquiry Panel's conclusion,  unfortunately, is that the scourge of anti-Semitism is a  growing threat in Canada, especially on the campuses of our  universities." The report cites numerous examples of  anti-Semitism on various campuses including the infamous  incident in 2009 when Jewish students at York University  were chased and barricaded themselves in the Hillel lounge  while a mob outside taunted them with anti-Semitic slurs.  The list of examples is quite long and  disturbing.  Universities should take note of the  report and the signing of the Ottawa Protocols. They should  put an immediate end to hateful and fallacious events like  Israeli Apartheid Week; they should state unequivocally that  freedom of speech should not be abused to provide a cover  for anti-Semitism; they should ensure that Jewish students  feel welcome on campus and that their learning environment  should be freed from anti-Israel occurrences and finally,  universities must become accountable for allowing their  private property to be venues for hateful conduct among  students.  The Ottawa Protocol to Combat Anti-Semitism  is a template for every Canadian to consider. But it is  especially a document of significance for universities that  have allowed themselves to become vehicles of hatred and  complicit in its promotion. As my friend, Professor Irwin Cotler said last night at the Ottawa signing ceremony,  anti-Semitism is not only the longest known form of hatred  in the history of humanity -- it is the only form of hatred  that is truly global.  Every person of conscience  should take note of the Ottawa Protocols and never forget  the lessons of the Holocaust when the world was silent.