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Access to Canadian records of Nazi war criminals

David Matas

Introduction: Following upon the huge embarrassment caused not only to the Canadian Government, but to Canada as a whole, by the decision to invite a former member of a Ukrainian Waffen SS unit into the House of Commons where he was applauded as a “war hero,” we asked David Matas, renowned lawyer and expert on the issue of Nazi war criminals who were allowed into Canada following World War II, to write a piece providing an analysis how Canada has failed so badly, not only to prevent Nazis and individuals who cooperated with the Nazi regime, to enter Canada, but also to continually refuse to identify who those individuals were. Following is David Matas’s piece:

Getting access to Canadian Nazi war criminal records has to date been nearly impossible. Efforts to obtain access to relevant files and documents have been constantly frustrated and gone nowhere. The record is this.
On January 12, 2022, B’nai Brith Canada put in a request to Library and Archives Canada for Part II of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals. Part I was public in 1986 when the Commission reported. Part II was confidential.
Part II contained, according to Part I, 822 opinions on individual cases. The Commission recommended that the Government give “urgent attention” to investigating 20 files of alleged Nazi war criminals who might still be living in Canada. The report also recommended further investigation of 218 other possible Nazi war criminals living in Canada.
What happened to the 20 cases which were recommended for urgent attention and the further 218 which were recommended for further investigation? We have no idea. We know that there some cases which went to Court and we have the Court records of those cases. But which of these were part of the 20 or 218, if any, were not disclosed.
As of today, Library and Archives Canada, one year and ten months later, has not responded to the request for Part II, other than to acknowledge receipt and assign the request a file number. B’nai Brith Canada complained on December 5, 2022 to the Office of the Information Commissioner asking the Commissioner to issue an order setting a deadline for Library and Archives Canada to provide B’nai Brith with a copy of the Part II Report. That complaint, as of today, has not been decided.
Also on January 12, 2022, B’nai Brith Canada put in a request to Library and Archives Canada for records relating to investigations of alleged Nazi war criminals of the War Crimes Unit of the Department of Justice and the RCMP. Canada’s Program on Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Eighth Annual Report 2004-2005 stated that, since beginning this work, the Department of Justice had opened and examined over 1,800 files. Who are these people? What was the result of the investigations in these cases?
With that request too, Library and Archives Canada has not responded, other than to acknowledge receipt and assign the request a file number. B’nai Brith Canada complained as well on December 5, 2022 to the Office of the Information Commissioner asking the Commissioner to issue an order setting a deadline for Library and Archives Canada to provide B’nai Brith with copies of the war crimes records. That complaint, as of today, has, like the other complaint, not been decided.
B’nai Brith Canada on March 6, 2023 asked for an unredacted copy of Library and Archives Canada the September, 1986 report prepared by Alti Rodal titled “Nazi War Criminals in Canada: The Historical and Policy Setting from the 1940s to the Present” prepared for the
Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals. Justice Jules Deschênes who headed the Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals recommended release of the report in its entirety. He wrote: “This substantial study no doubt constitutes an outstanding contribution to the knowledge of this particular question and deserves wide distribution.”
Library and Archives Canada provided B’nai Brith Canada on July 5th 2023 a redacted copy of the report, albeit with fewer redactions than there were at the time of the original release of the report. B’nai Brith Canada complained to the Office of the Information Commissioner within 30 days of the refusal to release the unredacted report. That complaint remains undecided.
The 2000 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Stockholm Declaration commits the signatories to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the opening of archives in order to ensure that all documents bearing on the Holocaust are available to researchers.” Canada joined the Alliance in 2009.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Monitoring Access to Archives Project recommended in 2017 that governmental archival institutions “release Holocaust related records, irrespective of any personal identifying information or national security classifications”.
The US Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act of 1998 created an interagency war criminals records working group to locate, identify, inventory for declassification and make public all classified Nazi war criminal records. The records subject to the Act include records of the assets of persecuted persons. The Act kept existing exemptions to disclosure in general laws, but required that they be strictly defined, with a presumption against the exemptions.
In addition to general requirements of strict definition and presumption against the exemptions, some of the exemptions were themselves redefined to limit their scope. The exemption from disclosure in favour of privacy is redrafted to become an exemption where there would be “a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy”. The exemption in favour of national security interests is redrafted to become an exemption where disclosure “would clearly and demonstrably damage the national security interests of the United States”. The exemptions in favour foreign relations and diplomatic activities is redrafted to become an exemption where disclosure “would clearly and demonstrably damage” foreign relations or diplomatic activities. The exemption in favour of emergency preparedness plans is redrafted to become an exemption for information that “would seriously and demonstrably impair” those plans.
The records which were disclosed as a result of US Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act give us an insight into why the documents were withheld. One set of documents showed that the US Government had a lot more detailed knowledge of the Holocaust while it was happening. Keeping this information confidential and not acting on it at the time, whether or not it fits arguably within any of the exemptions, does make the US government of the time look bad. There is presumably similar information in currently withheld documentation of other governments.
A second set of documents initially withheld and then disclosed through the US legislation was documents showing that the Government was providing haven for those complicit in Nazi war crimes because of their potential to assist the US in the Cold War. Again this sort of information now withheld may well be found in other archives.
A third set of documents initially withheld and then disclosed because of the legislation were documents which showed the initial unwillingness to bring Nazi war criminals to justice, and the argumentation both for and against within the government. This argumentation we know has been replicated elsewhere.
A fourth set of documents not yet fully available relates to the effectiveness and operational difficulties of Nazi war crimes prosecution efforts once those efforts got going. In Canada, there was a split between the investigation and prosecution efforts, with investigations allocated to the national police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and prosecution allocated to the Department of Justice. This fragmentation caused a sequence of operational difficulties about which we now have only partial knowledge.
There was also in Canada internal feuding within the Nazi war crimes Justice department unit, arguments whether the unit was too slow and cautious or overly energetic in the pursuit of their efforts. The documents we have now provide only a glimpse of this feuding.
A sixth set of documents not now completely disclosed is efforts of Nazi war crimes prosecution units that were established to obtain access to relevant documents in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. We know that there was a good deal of difficulty in getting that access and that eventually international agreements were negotiated that allowed foreign war crimes units direct access to those archives rather than working through local archivists. Again, this is a story which could be fully told only with release of all relevant documents.
A seventh difficulty is the inclination of archivists, government officials and Parliamentarians to address the difficulties in access to documentation all at once. Yet, attempting to do everything before one does anything is a recipe for doing nothing. Each request is particular, not least in the archival access issues it presents. An effort to resolve all these myriad issues in one fell swoop goes nowhere.
We can see in several countries self-exoneration and blame shifting as a form of Holocaust distortion. Everywhere the Nazis went they relied on local collaboration to identify, locate, detain and murder the Jewish population. What we see now in several countries is an effort to pretend that the locals were innocent, that the only perpetrators were the invading Nazis.
This whitewashing is not confined to the countries invaded. It is an attitude held within the populations which have emigrated from the invaded countries. This attitude had generated opposition to the effort to bring Nazi war criminals to justice and now generates opposition to disclosure of archives about those efforts.
Canadian privacy law allows for the lapse of the right to privacy twenty years after death. However, in the case of Nazi war criminal files, since the names of those, other than those whose cases have gone to court, are not known, neither is their dates of death. While the dates of death are not known to outsiders, they are either known or knowable to archivists.
The situation justifies these recommendations:
1) Obstacles to access to Nazi war criminal records stem from legislation which is general in nature. There needs to be legislation which is specific to Holocaust records and which provides an exception to these general requirements. The legislation needs to encompass Holocaust related archives concerning both perpetrators and victims.
2) National archives need to establish and maintain separate Holocaust records within their general collections.
3) Insofar as there is discretion in current legislation to allow for exceptions to prohibitions to access, that discretion should be exercised in favour of access to Holocaust related records, including Nazi war crimes records.
4) Parliament can obtain documents from Governments which the public can not obtain. Parliament should exercise that power to obtain Holocaust related records.
5) The public interest in access to Nazi war criminal files should prevail over the right to be forgotten.
6) There needs to be active review of Nazi war criminal files both to make publicly available the files where the dates of death are known and the fixed periods after dates of death in privacy legislation have passed, and to determine whether any of those to whom the files relate are still alive or, if dead, the dates of death, where the deaths or dates of death are not known.
Canada, as a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, is committed to Holocaust remembrance. To remember the Holocaust, we must remember the victims. We must also not forget their murderers. While the murderers are alive, that means bringing them to justice. Once they are gone, it means providing public access to the record of their atrocities.
During the Holocaust, the murderers were in Europe. After the Holocaust, the murderers scattered around the world to escape justice. Thousands came to Canada. Howard Margolian, a historian with the War Crimes Unit with the Department of Justice, in his book Unauthorized Entry, estimated that 2,000 Nazi war criminals and collaborators entered Canada after World War II.
It is understandable that files about individuals who are still alive are not made accessible to the public unless there is legal action. But once the individual has died, there is no reason why the file could not be made public, no matter what the state of the evidence about the individual. Not doing so amounts to covering up the haven Canada has given to those complicit in Nazi war crimes with a blanket of secrecy.
Philosopher George Santayana wrote: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Yet, we can not remember a past which remains hidden from us. To remember the past we must know the past. Only through public access to Holocaust archives can we learn lessons from those archives.
Learning lessons from the Holocaust is a legacy we can create for the victims, creating meaning from the senseless death of innocents. To learn those lessons, we need access to the archives which can convey them.
The effort at understanding, of learning the lessons from the Holocaust must never stop. For that history to be written, the files of those against whom there is compelling evidence of complicity in Nazi war crimes and who are now dead must be made public.
We have a duty to the victims, not just to remember that they died, but why they died, how they died. The picture of memory we paint must be real and complete. That picture must include the murderers.
Because we will soon be at a stage where the memory of the Holocaust conveyed by survivors will no longer be with us, access to Holocaust archives looms in importance for keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive. Access to Holocaust archives should be a matter of priority to Governments, Parliaments and archival collections.

David Matas is a Winnipeg lawyer and senior honorary counsel to B’nai Brith Canada

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Is it worth playing free slot machines in 2025?

For beginners, free slot games are a great introduction to the world of online casinos. These games offer the excitement of playing slots without the financial risk, making them an ideal choice for players who want to explore different themes, features, and mechanics before investing real money. Those looking for trustworthy casinos can benefit from platforms like CasinoSpot, which only selects trusted online casinos and offers access to fair games, secure payment methods, and excellent customer support.

What are free slot machines?

Free slot machines are online casino games that allow players to enjoy the thrill of slot gaming without the need to wager any real money. These games are often used as a way for beginners to familiarize themselves with slot mechanics, gameplay features, and bonus rounds before making any financial commitment. Free slots simulate the exact experience of playing a real-money game, offering the same graphics, sounds, and features, but without the risk of losing money. 

Free slot machines are also great for experienced players who want to practice or try out new slot games without any financial pressure. These games provide an opportunity to experience the latest releases and explore different casinos or slot providers before deciding where to invest real money. Additionally, free slots often allow players to accumulate virtual credits to experience the game’s full features, such as bonus rounds and free spins. However, while free slot machines offer entertainment and practice, they don’t provide any winnings, as no real money is involved in the gameplay.

The benefits of playing free slot machines

Free slot machines offer a unique and enjoyable way for both beginners and experienced players to explore the world of online casinos without any financial risk. With the opportunity to play at your own pace and try out different game styles, free slots provide a fantastic introduction to online gambling.

Here are some key benefits of playing free slot machines:

  • Risk-Free Experience
    One of the biggest benefits of free slots is that they provide a risk-free gambling experience. Players can enjoy the excitement of playing slot games without the concern of losing money. This allows them to explore different games, features, and mechanics with no financial pressure.
  • Learn the Game Mechanics
    Free slots are an excellent way to learn how slot machines work. Beginners can familiarize themselves with the game rules, paylines, bonus features, and different types of symbols before moving on to real-money games. It’s a great way to build confidence and understand the game’s mechanics.
  • Try Out New Strategies
    Many players enjoy experimenting with various betting strategies when playing free slot machines. Since there is no monetary risk, players can test their theories and strategies to see how they affect their chances of winning.
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    Free slots offer a wide variety of themes, from classic fruit machines to elaborate storylines based on mythology, movies, and more. This diversity allows players to explore different types of slots and find games that they truly enjoy.
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    Free slot games often come with exciting bonus features such as free spins, multipliers, and interactive bonus rounds. These features make the gameplay more enjoyable and provide opportunities to experience some of the most thrilling aspects of online slots without spending any money.

Playing free slot machines is an excellent way to enjoy online gambling while honing your skills and exploring various game types. From learning game mechanics to experimenting with new strategies, free slots offer many benefits that enhance your gaming experience. By taking advantage of free slots, players can build their confidence and develop strategies that will benefit them when they transition to real-money games.

The best free slot machines in 2025

As online casinos continue to evolve, the range of free slot machines available to players in 2025 has expanded significantly. The best free slot machines provide a variety of exciting experiences, from thrilling bonus rounds to immersive storylines that keep players coming back for more.

Here are some of the top free slot machines to play in 2025:

  • Tombstone RIP
    Tombstone RIP is a thrilling free slot machine with a western theme that immerses players in an old-western atmosphere. Featuring wild symbols, free spins, and a bonus round, it offers an exciting experience with high potential payouts. The graphics are top-notch, providing a visually stunning and immersive experience.
  • The Wild Life
    The Wild Life is a beautifully designed slot that takes players on an adventure into the heart of the jungle. With its vibrant graphics and animal-themed reels, this free slot provides an exciting gameplay experience. Features like wild symbols and multipliers enhance the potential for big wins, making it an ideal choice for players looking to explore new themes. The game’s simplicity and fun gameplay make it a popular choice among slot enthusiasts.
  • Royal Spins
    Royal Spins  transports players into a world of luxury with its regal theme and elegant design. The game features rich symbols like crowns and jewels, along with a rewarding bonus round and free spins. Its smooth gameplay and attractive rewards make it an excellent option for players who want to experience the thrill of high-end slot gaming without risking any money.
  • Cash Eruption
    Cash Eruption is a free slot that stands out for its explosive graphics and thrilling gameplay. The game revolves around the excitement of hitting a jackpot with multipliers and wild symbols. Players can take advantage of its free spins and bonus features, which keep the excitement high throughout the gameplay. With its dynamic visuals and potential for large payouts, Cash Eruption is a must-try for players who enjoy action-packed slot machines.

Whether you’re new to online slots or an experienced player looking to practice or learn new games, free slots 2025 are a great opportunity to improve your skills and have fun. By playing these free games, players can gain valuable experience and feel more confident when they decide to move on to real money slots.

Conclusion

Playing free slot machines in 2025 is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the world of online gaming without the financial risk. These games provide an opportunity for both beginners and experienced players to familiarize themselves with different slot mechanics, experiment with various strategies, and simply enjoy the thrill of gaming. By practicing on free slots, you can build the confidence needed for transitioning to real-money games, ensuring you have an exciting and rewarding gambling experience.

FAQ

Can you win real money with free slot machines?

No, free slot machines do not offer real money payouts. 

What are the benefits of playing free slot machines?

The benefits include a risk-free experience, the ability to learn the game mechanics, test strategies, and enjoy a wide variety of themes without financial commitment.

Are free slot machines available on mobile?

Yes, many online casinos offer free slot games that are optimized for mobile devices, allowing players to enjoy them on the go.

Do I need to register to play free slot machines?

In most cases, you don’t need to register to play free slot machines. However, some casinos may require registration to access certain games or features.

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Looking for experienced, reasonably priced window cleaning in Winnipeg?

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Winnipegger behind restoration of historic Jewish cemetery in Portugal

Bonnie Neil

By MYRON LOVE The Butterfly Effect is roughly the idea that, metaphorically, great trees grow from small seeds or, to be more specific, the theory that tornadoes in North America may be triggered by a butterfly in Africa – or a seagull in the Atlantic – flapping its wings multiple times.
This story is an example of the Butterfly Effect in human terms.  Roughly 40 years ago, a Winnipegger by the name of Bonnie Neil – she was known as Bonnie Griffith back then – happened to be visiting Portugal – in her role as program director of the old Hargrave YMHA’s Stay Young seniors group – and came across an abandoned Jewish cemetery in the south of the country.  She mentioned the sorry state of the cemetery to a member of the small Jewish community in Lisbon.  Now, that cemetery is a Jewish heritage site.
A social worker by training, she was hired by the Y in 1975 to work with teens. After a short time, she switched her focus to developing programming for older Jewish adults. “I founded the Stay Young Club,” recalls Neil (who isn’t Jewish).  “When I started at the Y, there were no programs for older adults.  I first proposed to Les Marks (who was then the Y’s executive director) the idea of programming for older adults and he gave me carte blanche to create programming.”
With funding from the Jewish Foundation and the Federal Government’s New Horizons program, Neil set to work. She began with a weekly gym and swim program, then added a weekly lunch, a Yiddish group, a choir and a light exercise group. Within a couple of years, the Stay Young Club was offering activities for older adults every week day.
The ambitious Neil then began going further afield.  She began organizing short trips for Stay Young members, starting with Calgary and Edmonton, subsequently to Florida and Palm Springs. Looking even further afield, she took her charges to  Israel three times –with assistance the first time from the well known Noach Witman (who operated Witman Travel in addition to hosting the Jewish Radio Hour).  Subsequent Israeli trips were organized through Beth Shore at Flair Travel.
Les was always asking me where we were going to go next,” she remembers.  “I had come across a little book listing places of Jewish interest.  I noticed that Portugal wasn’t listed.  We had been flying with CP Air -which flew to Portugal. I decided to go to Portugal to see for myself what might be of interest to Jewish travellers.
“As I knew nothing about the country, I asked a Jewish woman I met what there was in Portugal that might be of interest to Jewish travellers?  She suggested I visit the southern city of Faro where there was a Jewish cemetery.”
Now some background: It is common knowledge (I think) that all Jews (except those who were willing to convert to Christianity) were expelled from Portugal in 1496 – four years after Jews were expelled from Spain.  I hadn’t given much thought to what Jewish life in Portugal was like following the expulsion.  According to information that Neil gave me, Portugal began allowing some Jews back into the country in the early 1800s.  During World War II, the country became a haven for Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. Thousands of Jewish refugees found safety in Portugal. After the war, most left for other destinations.  The Jewish population currently is about 900 – with two-thirds living in Lisbon, the capital.
(Ed. note: Portugal has become a prime destination for Israelis seeking to obtain citizenship in a different country, although without actually leaving Israel. According to the Times of Israel, over 60,000 Israelis have been granted Portugese citizenship, although only 569 had actually moved there as of September 2023. According to the TOI article, ‘The surge of Israeli applicants began after Portugal passed its “law of return” in 2015, allowing the descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews who were affected by the 16th-century Inquisition to apply for nationality. The Portuguese government has announced plans to end this policy in December 2023, saying its purpose of reparation will be ‘fulfilled.’ “
It sounds quite similar to the vast number of Lebanese who hold Canadian citizenship – between 40-75,000. It seems that Portugal and Canada offer attractive alternative destinations for Israelis on the one hand, and Lebanese on the other. If either group thought their lives were truly in peril, then they would have a safe place to where they could run, but in the meantime both Israelis and Lebanese seem content to stay where they are.)
In the 15th century, Faro had been a centre of Hebrew printing.  The Jewish community began to be reconstituted in the 19th century.  The cemetery was opened in 1820.  In the 1860s, Jews from Morocco settled in the community – with some Russian and Polish Jews coming before World War I.

The Jewish cemetery in Faro, Portugal


So Neil traveled to Portugal on an exploratory visit and asked her guide to show her the cemetery. She was horrified by what she saw.
“The last Jewish resident of Faro had died a  year before,” she recalls.  “When I arrived, the gates were locked.  I could see that there was garbage and weeds everywhere. I also learned that the city was planning to tear down the cemetery to expand a sports field nearby.  I let it be known that I was planning to bring a group of Jewish tourists and I got a promise that the cemetery would be cleaned up.”
During a stopover in Lisbon, she mentioned the cemetery’s deplorable condition. Then she went home.  As it happened, the tour was cancelled due to a lack of registrants. 
She says that she never gave Portugal another thought.
In 1985 she left the Y for government employment.  “While I loved working at the Y,” she says, “I was a single mother by then with two children – and the government was offering a salary that was twice what the Y was paying.”
Recently, Neil learned what happened to the cemetery.  It seems that shortly after she alerted the Jewish community in Lisbon,   a community member by the name of Ike Bitton founded the Faro Cemetery Restoration Fund.  The result of the fundraising effort resulted not only in the cemetery’s restoration, but also the opening a small Jewish museum containing a display of furniture from Faro’s synagogues.
Neil left government in 1992 to go into private practice in the social work field.  She notes that she did some programming with seniors at the Simkin Centre. She retired in 2014.  She still supports some Jewish institutions such as the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre. 

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