Federal Court orders Canada to disclose hidden sections of Nazi war crimes study
Justice Simon Fothergill ruled that the government must release previously redacted passages of a 1986 study on the settlement of alleged Nazi war criminals in Canada.
In a ruling released today, Federal Court Justice Simon Fothergill ordered the Canadian government to make public additional portions of a 1986 study on the post-war resettlement of alleged Nazi war criminals. The report, compiled by Alti Rodal for a landmark federal commission of inquiry, had several sections redacted for decades. Advocacy group B'nai Brith Canada had pressed for full transparency, prompting Library and Archives Canada to release some material after an access-to-information request.
However, other sections, including those discussing American intelligence involvement, remained withheld. The court dismissed the government's argument that publishing these details would harm Canada’s international relations, mandating their release. This decision expands public knowledge of historical immigration and intelligence activities linked to former Nazi collaborators.
Why it matters
It increases transparency about how alleged Nazi criminals were settled in Canada and challenges government secrecy.
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