National Holocaust Monument
On 27 September 2017, at the National Holocaust Monument, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, unveiled a plaque reading: “The National Holocaust Monument commemorates the millions of men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust and honours the survivors who persevered and were able to make their way to Canada after one of the darkest chapters in history. The monument recognizes the contribution these survivors have made to Canada and serves as a reminder that we must be vigilant in standing guard against hate, intolerance and discrimination.”
This plaque was removed on 2 October 2017 and replaced with one that makes no reference to the millions of Ukrainians enslaved or murdered by the Nazis.
We believe Canada’s National Holocaust Monument should be inclusive, recalling all victims of Nazi oppression.
Neither the former Minister of Canadian Heritage, Melanie Joly, nor the current one, Pablo Rodriguez, have responded to repeated requests from the Ukrainian Canadian community asking them why the millions of Ukrainian victims of Nazi oppression are not hallowed at the National Holocaust Monument.
Why does a monument, funded partly by Canadian taxpayers, and located in our national capital region, discriminate against Ukrainian victims of the Holocaust?