UCCLA comments on redress for internment, which remains to be finalized by new government (12/21/03)

UCCLA comments on redress for internment, which remains to be finalized by new government

TORONTO - Over the past year, representatives of the Ukrainian Canadian community have engaged in negotiations with Minister of Canadian Heritage, Sheila Copps, MP, senior representatives of her department and of Parks Canada, aimed at reaching agreement on a series of commemorative and educational initiatives that would recall Canada's first national internment operations and their impact on Ukrainians and other Europeans who were considered "enemy aliens," imprisoned in concentration camps and subjected to other censures during and after World War I.

Those negotiations were not finalized. Nevertheless, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Canadian community, Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk, director of research for the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association, said: "The Minister of Canadian Heritage, Ms. Copps, was very keen to put together an envelope of commemorative and educational projects that would have gone a long way toward securing a settlement of our community's calls for recognition and reconciliation. Unfortunately, the press of time and her other commitments made it impossible for us to reach such an agreement, although considerable progress was made, particularly with Parks Canada officials, on how we might ensure that this episode in our country's history is properly recalled in the national parks system."

Dr. Luciuk added, "We look forward to working with Parks Canada officials, other Cabinet ministers and, of course, Right Honorable Paul Martin, the new prime minister of Canada, to ensure that this matter is settled in a timely and honorable manner, hopefully while the last known Ukrainian survivor of the internment operations, Mary Manko Haskett, is able to witness such a historic act."

Dr. Luciuk said the UCCLA is calling upon Prime Minster Martin to designate a minister from within his new Cabinet to continue with the reconciliation talks," building upon the solid bases for settlement that Minister Copps prepared."

"We also wish to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Copps, and the Secretary of State (for Multiculturalism) Jean Augustine for their good will and candor over the past year. Minister Copps proved herself to be a true friend of the Ukrainian Canadian community," Dr. Luciuk noted.

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