Good news from Canada

On 25 November 2010, shortly after the conference was declared, Canada announced that it would not be attending and that the country had lost faith in the United Nations' human rights process. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said: "The original Durban Conference, and its declaration, as well as the non-governmental activities associated with it, proved to be a dangerous platform for racism, including antisemitism," also stating that "Canada is clearly committed to the fight against racism, but the Durban process commemorates an agenda that actually promotes racism rather than combats it," and "Canada will not participate in this charade. We will not lend our good name to this Durban hatefest."

The boycott declaration was supported by the opposition. Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Official Opposition and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, the main opposition party in the Canadian Parliament, issued the following statement:

I unequivocally support the decision to boycott the Durban III conference, taking place in New York next September. The first Durban conference, which the proposed Durban III conference seeks to commemorate, turned into a festival of racism against Israel and the Jewish people that Canada was right to condemn. Sadly, while a decade has passed, the Durban conferences remain a staging ground for antisemitic and anti-Israel statements. Canada should absolutely not participate in the Durban III conference or countenance in any way these hateful views. In light of this disturbing trend, the conferences cannot be seen as legitimate forums capable of facilitating honest discussions about racism. Combating both racism and antisemitism is a global responsibility, and as a steadfast defender of the principles of equality and dignity for all persons, Canada must not participate in Durban III.