HERI Committee Report

The 20th century was marred by horrific acts of genocide, innumerable crimes against humanity, and other atrocities. The Committee thanks Sarkis Assadourian, the member for Brampton Centre, for bringing up the question of recognizing the victims of these crimes against humanity, because it is only by learning from the tragedies of the past that we can hope to build a better future. The Committee also thanks those who submitted briefs and the witnesses who appeared to contribute their viewpoints and, in certain cases, their own life experiences of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Witnesses and briefs raised many issues about the most appropriate ways to remember the victims of genocide and crimes against humanity in the 20th century. Instead of a genocide exhibit in the Canadian Museum of Civilization, there was a general sentiment in favour of asking the federal government to establish an independent and free-standing museum. Two very different images of the proposed museum were presented: one would focus on the Holocaust and deal with other examples of genocide and crimes against humanity in this context; the other would treat all examples of genocide and crimes against humanity on an inclusive and equal basis. If a consensus emerged among all groups, it was that three central elements should be present in any project, whatever form it might take: research, education, and remembering the victims.

This consensus was emphasized in the presentation by the representatives of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, who made a suggestion about achieving the three objectives of this consensus. Their suggestion would reinforce the Canadian tradition which emphasises tolerance and reconciliation, and would avoid the disagreement over the form and content of a traditional museum might.

In World War II, Canadian soldiers liberated Westerbork in Holland, a transit camp from which Jewish and other victims of the Nazi genocide were sent to the infamous death camps, which were liberated by Soviet, British and United States forces. Throughout the 20th century, Canada became the refuge of millions of immigrants from all parts of the world who fled their homelands because of the reality and the fear of genocide, crimes against humanity, and other atrocities. Thus millions of Canadians have experienced first hand the horrors of crimes against humanity, or have relived these horrors through the accounts of their parents, grandparents and other family members. These accounts have become past of our common history.

Since the end of World War II, Canadian armed forces have become heavily involved in the United Nations peacekeeping operations. As a result, a growing number of serving members of the forces and veterans of peacekeeping missions, both civilian and military, have had first hand experience of crimes against humanity and genocide. Nothing in their experience of Canadian society had prepared them for the horrors they witnessed; even to-day, very little in their training will prepare them for experiences of this kind that they might have while serving abroad. This applies not only to service personnel, but also to the civilians who serve abroad to help restore justice systems, to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity, and to help non-governmental organizations care for victims and rebuild shattered local economies.

The suggestion by the Canadian Museum of Civilization has led the Committee to propose that Heritage Canada consider entrusting one or more academic centres with the task of researching all genocides and crimes against humanity. This centre or these centres could collect material and publish works on genocide and crimes against humanity in the 20th century, as defined by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Part 2, Articles 6 and 7, to which Canada is a signatory.

The education of Canadians, and particularly Canadian youth, about the history and nature of genocide and crimes against humanity would be vital a vital objective of the centre or centres.

The witnesses agreed that Canadians of all ages and in all walks of life should have access to education about genocide and crimes against humanity in the 20th century. Education would bring awareness: awareness of the depths to which otherwise ordinary, law-abiding people could sink, and awareness of the crimes they could commit. Education would bring knowledge of the extent of crimes against humanity and of the steps that can lead to outright genocide: from pervasive social bias to legalized exclusion; from state sanctioned removal of human rights to dehumanization; and from ''ethnic cleansing'' to systematic mass murder as an open government policy designed to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group as such.

The ultimate objective of education should be to promote respect for human rights, tolerance of differences, and abhorrence of discrimination and its manifestations, in order to prevent the latter from being transmitted from one generation to another.

The Committee was interested in the proposal by the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association that a Canadian Book of the Dead be prepared to memorialize the victims of genocide and crimes against humanity. There are many traumatic events in the past of the peoples of Canada; not all of these tragedies, however, took place in the 20th century, and not all would meet the modern legal definition of genocide or crimes against humanity.

The Committee is aware of the need for reconciliation among Canadians of different faiths and ethnic origins, in addition to the need for remembrance and knowledge. This need might be studied by the centre or centres proposed above.

Many witnesses expressed their appreciation of Bill C-224, considering it an excellent starting point. In this spirit, the Committee has suggested some ways to pursue the Bill's objectives of research, education, and remembering the victims of genocide and crimes against humanity.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (Meetings Nos. 37, 38, 40 and 41, which includes this report) is tabled.