Canada Seeks Public Input on National Holocaust Monument

The Canadian government is asking for input from citizens on the planned National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa.

John Baird, Foreign Affairs Minister and minister responsible for the National Capital Commission, announced last week that this is the next step in the process of building the National Holocaust Monument.

The government is seeking feedback from the general public online to help it decide where in the Ottawa area the monument will be located.  The poll, which includes five questions, asks participants to rank their preferences for the look, placement and purpose of the monument, and also provides blank suggestion boxes for additional comments.

The National Holocaust Monument is the result of a private member's bill, introduced by the Honourable Tim Uppal, Minister of State (Democratic Reform) and Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Sherwood Park, which was supported by all parties in the House of Commons and received Royal Assent on March 25, 2011.

"This monument deserves a location at the heart of the capital region, befitting its importance to Canada as a whole," Minister of Foreign Affairs Baird said. "I encourage anyone who is interested to take a few minutes to go online and answer questions there about the future site of the National Holocaust Monument."

The poll is available at www.international.gc.ca/monument/index.aspx?lang=eng.