Ukrainian Canadian Congress meets with Minister Moore
On February 15, 2011, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress met with the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage, to discuss the concerns of the Ukrainian Canadian community regarding the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Minister James Moore with UCC President Paul Grod
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress delegation that met with Minister Moore included Ukrainian Canadian Congress National President Paul Grod and UCC Executive Director Taras Zalusky. “We had a candid and frank discussion with Minister Moore regarding our community’s difficulty with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Specifically we expressed concern over the governance, content and layout of the museum. Despite assurances that the content has not been finalized, the museum is proceeding with procurement based on the discredited report of the Content Advisory Committee where the Holodomor and Canada’s First National Internment Operations are not displayed permanently and prominently in their own zone,” stated Ukrainian Canadian Congress National President Paul Grod. Specifically, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress is asking the Government of Canada to: 1. Reconstitute the Museum’s Board of Trustees The UCC calls upon the Minister of Heritage to disband and replace the Board of Trustees with appointees who are impartial and representative of Canadian society. 2. Independent Review Conduct an independent review of the design, layout and content of the Museum in a public and transparent manner to ensure that the museum’s content and design is decided upon and displayed in a fair and equitable manner; That the contents of the CMHR be reviewed by a newly appointed, independent and impartial Content Advisory Committee and that all work and procurement relating to content, design or that may impact on these aspects, be immediately suspended until its design, layout and content has been publicly presented. 3. Suspend Incremental Funding Suspend any further funding for the Museum until issues surrounding the governance and content of the Museum are reviewed, and furthermore require the suspension of any procurement that is predicated on a design, layout and content until an independent review is concluded. That no further funding be extended to the museum (by any branch of government) until these issues are resolved.