Canadian Monument to 'Victims of Communism' Includes Nazis, According to Media
A memorial dedicated to honoring individuals who endured hardships under communism may see the removal of over 330 names because of alleged connections to Nazism. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Canadian authorities are considering the removal of more than half of the names from the planned Memorial to the Victims of Communism in Ottawa amid suspicions that many individuals honored may have ties to the Nazis, according to local media reports on Monday.
A document acquired by the Ottawa Citizen through an information disclosure request reveals that the Department of Canadian Heritage discovered that 50 to 60 of the 553 people and organizations initially slated for inclusion on the monument were "likely directly linked to the Nazis."
Additionally, a 2023 report for Canadian Heritage recommended excluding over 330 names from the list "to be on the safe side," citing insufficient information regarding potential Nazi connections. Other names were proposed for removal due to a lack of direct ties to Canada, as reported by the outlet.
The unveiling of the monument, originally scheduled for November 2023, was postponed following concerns that some individuals listed had collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II. This concern was exacerbated by a scandal involving Yaroslav Hunka, a known Ukrainian veteran of the Waffen SS, who received a standing ovation in the Canadian parliament.
The controversy surrounding Hunka sparked widespread outrage, particularly from the Jewish community. They highlighted that Hunka’s 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also referred to as the 1st Galician Division, was implicated in war crimes and largely comprised Western Ukrainians.
In response, the Canadian government is currently “doing its due diligence to ensure all aspects of the Memorial remain compatible with Canadian values on democracy and human rights.” While the monument is expected to open this year, the specific date has yet to be finalized.
The proposed monument first faced criticism in 2021 when its fundraising campaign garnered significant donations intended to honor controversial figures such as Ante Pavelic, a Croatian fascist leader, and Roman Shukhevich, a Ukrainian nationalist and Nazi collaborator involved in the mass killing of tens of thousands of Poles.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
A document acquired by the Ottawa Citizen through an information disclosure request reveals that the Department of Canadian Heritage discovered that 50 to 60 of the 553 people and organizations initially slated for inclusion on the monument were "likely directly linked to the Nazis."
Additionally, a 2023 report for Canadian Heritage recommended excluding over 330 names from the list "to be on the safe side," citing insufficient information regarding potential Nazi connections. Other names were proposed for removal due to a lack of direct ties to Canada, as reported by the outlet.
The unveiling of the monument, originally scheduled for November 2023, was postponed following concerns that some individuals listed had collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II. This concern was exacerbated by a scandal involving Yaroslav Hunka, a known Ukrainian veteran of the Waffen SS, who received a standing ovation in the Canadian parliament.
The controversy surrounding Hunka sparked widespread outrage, particularly from the Jewish community. They highlighted that Hunka’s 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also referred to as the 1st Galician Division, was implicated in war crimes and largely comprised Western Ukrainians.
In response, the Canadian government is currently “doing its due diligence to ensure all aspects of the Memorial remain compatible with Canadian values on democracy and human rights.” While the monument is expected to open this year, the specific date has yet to be finalized.
The proposed monument first faced criticism in 2021 when its fundraising campaign garnered significant donations intended to honor controversial figures such as Ante Pavelic, a Croatian fascist leader, and Roman Shukhevich, a Ukrainian nationalist and Nazi collaborator involved in the mass killing of tens of thousands of Poles.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
