CANADIAN ETHNOCULTURAL COUNCIL
RESPONSE TO CANADIAN MUSEUM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT
In its 30-year history the Canadian Ethnocultural Council, which represents a cross
section of ethnocultural groups in Canada, supports the ideals of equity, tolerance and
harmony and speaks out against discrimination. Its mandate includes matters related to
ethnocultural groups within the Canadian context.
The CEC attended the December 18, 2010 meeting of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress
with representatives of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights where concern was
expressed regarding the Museum’s post-consultation report. It is the position of the CEC
that the Museum, as a national Canadian museum, must give significant space to exhibits
of infringements of human rights, which occurred in Canada and constitute part of our
country’s history.
Of particular concern for the CEC is what appears to be the lack of a Canadian “space”
dedicated to addressing the impact of the War Measures Act implemented three times in
Canadian history leading to: the internment operations of the First World War affecting
Ukrainians and other ethnic communities, internment operations of the Second World
War affecting Italians, Japanese and Germans; the treatment of citizens in Quebec in the
early 1970s, as well as the Chinese Head Tax and other cases of discrimination and
violation of human rights within the boundaries of Canada.
The Canadian Ethnocultural Council also addresses the matter of immigration and
anticipates that the Museum will acknowledge that millions of displaced persons,
refugees and victims of infringements of human rights in its many forms immigrated to
Canada. These people now constitute the citizens of our country.
Member organizations of the CEC can review the Museum’s report and communicate
their respective positions directly to the Museum administration, should they wish.
If we hope to build a tolerant and harmonious society the Museum must take no less than
an exemplary leadership role by addressing the many examples of human rights
violations in the world in an inclusive, fair and objective manner and thereby to educate
the public.
The Executive Committee
The Canadian Ethnocultural Council
January 13, 2011
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CANADIAN ETHNOCULTURAL COUNCIL – CONSEIL ETHNOCULTUREL DU CANADA
176 Gloucester St., Suite 400, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0A6, Canada
Tel (613) 230-3867, Fax (613) 230-8051 E-mail: cec@web.ca Website: www.ethnocultural.ca
