December 17, 2015 – OTTAWA.. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) welcomed the announcement today by the Government of Canada to move forward with the Memorial to the Victims of Communism in Ottawa’s Parliamentary precinct.
Canada’s Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Mélanie Joly announced at a news conference in Ottawa today that the Government of Canada is moving forward with plans to erect a Memorial to the Victims of Communism in Ottawa’s Parliamentary precinct. In addition, Canada will provide matched funds to the project of up to $1.5 million. A new call for proposals and public consultation process will be put in place.
“The Ukrainian Canadian community welcomes this announcement that the memory of the victims of Lenin, Stalin, Mao and countless other communist dictators will be hallowed and memorialized in Canada’s capital,” stated Ukrainian Canadian Congress National President Paul Grod. “I had the opportunity to discuss the Holodomor which saw millions of Ukrainians starved to death by the Soviet Communist regime in 1932-33 last week. It is very important that Canada remembers the victims of communist terror, and that our children may learn the lessons of history so that these crimes are never committed again.”
During the federal election campaign Prime Minister Trudeau responded to a UCC questionnaire stating, “we firmly believe this monument must be built, a Liberal government will work to ensure the location of such a monument reflects adequate consultation and community consensus so Canada can honour the victims of communism in a respectful manner.”
“Nearly one quarter of Canadians trace their roots to countries that were oppressed by communist regimes, and many escaped totalitarianism to come to Canada,” said UCC Executive Director Taras Zalusky. “By moving forward with the memorial in this prestigious location in the Parliamentary precinct, generations of Canadians will learn their stories and Canada’s legacy as a land of refuge and freedom, which is an essential part of Canada’s history.”
