.png;w=960)
In a historic legal decision, a North Bay man has been sentenced to nine months in jail after being found guilty of promoting hatred and denying the Holocaust through dozens of disturbing social media posts and videos promoting hate and violence against the Jewish community.
It marks the first-ever conviction in a Canadian court for Holocaust denial, according to Crown prosecutors.
The conviction was a result of a seven-month-long investigation into a hate crime by the North Bay Police Service’s Criminal Investigation Section.
Kenneth Paulin, 51, was sentenced to nine months in jail and two years of probation on September 18 for the wilful promotion of hate against Jewish people and the wilful promotion of antisemitism by condoning, denying, or downplaying the Holocaust, according to a release from the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC).
The organization shares lessons of the Holocaust, and advocates for human rights and combatting antisemitism and hate.
Paulin was arrested and charged on Friday, June 20, following the investigation into his antisemitic online content.
See: Local man faces charges for promoting hatred and antisemitism
"His posts vilified the Jewish community, promoted blood libels and conspiracy theories, incited hate and violence against Jews, and repeatedly mocked and denied the Holocaust," says the release.
Paulin's posts included claims that Jews are "demons," "the greatest mass murderers in human history," "to blame for every American who falls," and responsible for "almost 100%" of the world’s problems. He also expressed support for a "Worldwide 'Jew Hunt'" and declared that "antisemitism is the only thing that can save the world," among countless other hateful posts and videos.
Most disturbingly, he minimized and denied the Holocaust, including in a video he titled "Their victim card gets permanently denied as the hollow-cost-Hoax is exposed" and by sharing a post that read, "Six million didn't happen, but it should've."
In a community impact statement submitted to the court in August, FSWC Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy Jaime Kirzner-Roberts called Paulin’s content "an orchestrated effort to spread hatred, to normalize antisemitism and to encourage others to view Jews as enemies to be mocked, hunted and destroyed."
"The vile antisemitism we are confronting today has inflicted deep and lasting harm on Jewish Canadians, the minority group most frequently targeted by hate crimes in this country. But it's important to note that such hatred does not end with Jews – it corrodes our democracy, emboldens extremists, and threatens the values that hold Canada together," Kirzner-Roberts said in response to the sentencing.
"We are grateful to the police, the Attorney General, and Crown prosecutors for ensuring this precedent-setting case was pursued with the seriousness it deserves. We are also pleased that a jail sentence has been handed down, not only for the incitement of hatred against Jews, but also for the denial and glorification of the Holocaust. By standing firmly against such hateful rhetoric, this ruling affirms that every Canadian deserves to live with dignity, safety, and freedom, free from intimidation, dehumanization, and fear."
Police launched an investigation in November 2024 after receiving reports regarding the online content being produced by Paulin. A lengthy investigation was undertaken during which multiple warrants were executed to further the investigation.
A request was submitted to the Attorney General of Ontario, seeking approval for the formal charges of "Wilful Promotion of Hatred" and "Wilful Promotion of Antisemitism."
The request was approved, and Paulin was arrested and charged on June 20.
"The North Bay Police Service recognizes the significant impact that hate-motivated incidents can have on the community, and urges everyone to report incidents when they happen," said a police news release.
“This is an example of some of the great work being done by the officers in our Criminal Investigation Section," said Acting Deputy Chief Jeff Warner at the time. "This seven-month-long investigation resulted in charges against an individual in our community. The North Bay Police Service is committed to doing our part to ensure North Bay remains an inclusive community and sending the message that hate has no place in today’s society.”