– Toronto family employing war criminal
– Toronto family unaware of war criminal in their employment.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
OTTAWA — Nearly three decades ago, Gail Bocknek was shocked to discover that a man who had worked for her family for years was identified as a Nazi war criminal. The daughter of European Jews who lost many family members in the Holocaust, Bocknek was deeply disturbed by the revelation.
Fast forward to today, and the issue of Nazi war criminals in Canada is once again in the spotlight. Last fall, Canadian parliamentarians unknowingly applauded a man with ties to a Nazi unit in Ukraine. And just recently, the Liberal government agreed to declassify 15 more pages from a 1985 report detailing Canada’s history of admitting former Nazis into the country and failing to prosecute or deport them.
A Shocking Discovery
Bocknek’s personal connection to the issue dates back to her childhood when her parents hired a housekeeper, Emma Tobiass, whose husband, Erichs Tobiass, also worked for the family. It wasn’t until a news report in 1995 that Bocknek learned of Erichs’ dark past as a Nazi collaborator. The revelation left her reeling, questioning everything she knew about the man she once trusted.
Canada’s Complicated History
Canada, like many western countries, admitted thousands of Nazi war criminals in the years following World War II. This stands in stark contrast to the country’s rejection of Jewish asylum seekers during the same period. Immigration Minister Marc Miller acknowledges Canada’s “shameful” past and the need to confront it.
Legal Battles and Delays
Efforts to prosecute or deport suspected war criminals have been met with numerous legal challenges and delays. The case of Erichs Tobiass, one of the first individuals targeted for deportation in 1995, dragged on for years before his death in 1997. Other cases, like that of Helmut Oberlander, continued to linger in the courts for decades.
Current Challenges
Despite improvements in the vetting process, there are still concerns about the effectiveness of Canada’s screening procedures. People can still lie on their citizenship applications, raising doubts about the thoroughness of background checks. While the system has come a long way, there is acknowledgment that it is not foolproof.
As Canada continues to grapple with its past and work towards a more secure future, the legacy of Nazi war criminals in the country serves as a stark reminder of the importance of thorough vetting processes and accountability.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Feb. 19, 2024.
Written by Mia Rabson, The Canadian Press
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Toronto family employed war criminal
Unknowingly employed war criminal in Toronto family.
