In some cases, this extremist rhetoric has escalated to the point of accusing all of the millions of Canadians who identify as victims of Soviet Russian ethnocide of being “enemies” of Canada. This is deliberate incitement of hate, designed to fracture our social cohesion and turn Canadians against one another.
The Memorial to the Victims of Communism was created to honour the memories, experiences, and suffering of the millions who fled well-documented totalitarian communist tyranny, not only in Europe but also across Asia and other parts of the world. This includes the harrowing journeys of Vietnamese refugees who escaped communism in the aftermath of the Vietnam war, risking everything in search of democracy and freedom. Their stories of survival and resilience, alongside those fleeing Eastern Europe, collectively form a proud and essential part of Canada’s national fabric. Such diverse narratives of suffering and triumph must not be erased or demeaned by those who traffic in hate on behalf of authoritarian regimes.
Yet the inhumane attacks against these Canadian communities continue to grow, largely unchallenged, threatening the dignity and security of our communities and undermining the preservation of our cultural heritage.
“For Vietnamese boat people, the echoes of separation, loss, and trauma resonate deeply as they witness the dismissal of other histories connected by similar threads of repression and exile,” said Tribute to Liberty board member Christine Dang.
“The failure to confront these hateful narratives has prompted discussion within TTL about the steps necessary to defend our communities,” said Board Chair Ludwik Klimkowski. “In consultation with Heritage Canada, an indefinite delay of the installation of the Wall of Remembrance has been adopted to pre-empt further Kremlin-aligned attempts to weaponize the memorial for political harassment and disinformation.”
This decision was made reluctantly, after intense discussions, and only in response to the need to protect our communities, their historical experiences, and their contributions to Canada from an escalating wave of hateful, Kremlin-aligned narratives that circulate in national and online media with impunity. Canada must never be allowed to become a haven for extremist hatred, whether from the far right, far left, or foreign authoritarian actors.
To confront this growing threat, the Government of Canada must urgently commit meaningful resources to public education about the crimes of communist regimes and the histories of all communities affected by them. This includes the Vietnamese who fled communist terror, the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe who fought to liberate their nations from Soviet oppression, and others whose suffering has been denied or erased. Ottawa must also hold accountable those who incite hatred against the millions of Canadians—of every background—who are descendants of these victims. These interconnected histories are an important part of our diverse national fabric and must be fully integrated into the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
