A timeline for Canada's National Holocaust Monument

guest · 2017-09-06

2007

Laura Grosman, a second-year University of Ottawa student, completes an essay for Prof. Rebecca Margolis about how different nations have memorialized the Holocaust. She’s outraged when she learns Canada does not have a national Holocaust memorial, unlike most Western nations;
Grosman is introduced to Thornhill MP Susan Kadis, who agrees to draft a bill that calls for a national Holocaust memorial to be built in Ottawa.

2008:

Bill C-547 is introduced;
The bill dies on the order paper in September 2008 when a federal election is called;
Newly elected Thornhill MP Peter Kent is named to the Conservative cabinet, and he enlists Tory MP Tim Uppal of Edmonton to table a new bill to create a national Holocaust memorial.

2009

The redrafted legislation, Bill C-442, is introduced into the House of Commons on Sept. 18;
It receives second reading and is referred to committee on Dec. 8.

2010:

The Conservative government commits to building a national Holocaust memorial in the Speech from the Throne on March 3;
The bill is debated by the transport committee and returns to the House of Commons on June 9;
It receives third reading and is sent to the Senate on Dec. 9.

2011:

The bill receives second reading in the Senate on March 2 and third reading two days later;
Bill C-442 is given given Royal Assent and becomes law on the morning of March 25; the government falls due to a non-confidence vote later the same day;
The National Holocaust Monument Development Council begins to raise private money for the memorial with a $4.5 million goal.

2014

2015

The project is delayed when bids for construction come in well over budget;
Some design elements are modified to reduce the cost and the project is re-tendered.

2016

Construction begins on National Capital Commission land, at Booth and Wellington streets, opposite the Canadian War Museum.

2017