Canadian issues

Orest Steciw

Executive Director,

League of Ukrainian Canadians

You are no doubt aware of a recent controversy and discussion surrounding a memorial to “Galicia Division” veterans, given an active defamation campaign and recent acts of vandalism against our community.  Please allow me to provide some critical information for your reference and context.

A mature and informed perspective on the history of the Twentieth Century suggests that there were many perpetrators of many crimes against humanity.  The organizational prowess and geographical reach of two lead antagonists in that conflict – The Soviet Union and Nazi Germany – means that coercion was broadly used to press surrogates into service to do much of the “dirty work” of both sides.  Tis matter has also been thoroughly investigated since the Second World War to ensure that people who ought to be brought to justice be brought to justice.  One such major investigation in Canada was the Deschenes Commission.

You should be aware of the findings of the Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals, headed by the (late) Mr Justice Jules Deschenes. In his final report (released in April 1987), he concluded that (1) the ‘Galicia Division’ should not be indicted as a group, that (2) members of the Division were individually screened for security purposes before admission to Canada, that (3) charges of war crimes against members of the Division had never been substantiated, either in 1950 when they were first preferred, or in 1984 when they were renewed, or before the Commission, and that (4) in the absence of participation in, or knowledge of, specific war crimes, mere membership in the Galicia Division was insufficient to justify prosecution. It was also noted that no case could be made against members of the Division for revocation of citizenship or deportation since the Canadian authorities were fully aware of the relevant facts in 1950 and admission to Canada was not granted because of any false representation, or fraud, or concealment of material circumstances.

 In March 2018, the Government of Canada declared Mr Kirill Kalinin, an intelligence operative working out of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ottawa, to be a persona non grata. He was subsequently removed from this country. Kalinin had been identified by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as responsible for orchestrating a campaign of slander directed against the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, currently the Deputy Prime Minister. This same foreign intelligence operative was also promoting stories about an alleged “Nazi monument” in the St Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery in Oakville, abetted in his efforts by fellow travellers and other persons manifestly less interested in history than in perpetuating disproven allegations, even to the extent of provoking or indulging in hate crimes.

 Defacing any cemetery monument anywhere is a despicable act. We believe what happened in your community was, however, more than just the “destruction of property.” This was truly a hate crime and should be investigated as such. Accordingly, we expect this incident to be recognized by municipal authorities for what it was – a hate crime – and have full confidence that the Halton Police Department will soon identify the perpetrators so they can be dealt with by the criminal justice system. In the meantime we are writing to inform your Council and you of the above facts. We trust you will stand against cowardly acts of vandalism and take steps to ensure no desecrations or acts of hate of this sort occur again.

I remain available to you as a resource in what I am confident will be a renewed effort in community relations by your municipal administration.