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Toronto Sun, Canada
April 24 2014
Executive committee defers Armenian genocide memorial proposal 25
By Don Peat, City Hall Bureau Chief
TORONTO - A push by Toronto's Armenian community to have a monument on
public land commemorating the Armenian genocide will likely have to
wait until next year.
The city's executive committee voted Wednesday to send a request to
commemorate the Armenian genocide with a donated monument on public
land marking the 100th anniversary in 2015 to staff for consultation
with both Armenian and Turkish groups along with the federal and
provincial governments.
A report back isn't expected until early 2015 - after the municipal election.
That vote came after the executive committee spent most of the
afternoon hearing from members of the city's Armenian and Turkish
communities about the proposal.
Residents of Armenian descent told the committee they supported the
idea of a monument to mark - as described in Councillor Shelley
Carroll's motion - "the systematic extermination by the Ottoman Empire
of its minority Armenian subjects."
Speakers from the city's Turkish community objected to the monument
and argued it would spread hatred against their community.
Carroll had brought forward the request after being approached by the
Armenian National Committee of Toronto and wasn't impressed with
Wednesday's decision.
"It may well shelve it in this term of office," Carroll said.
"What I would call it is disingenuously deep-sixing something."
Asked when she thinks the monument would be built, Carroll said "this
monument will be installed on the 12th ... of never."
Carroll said sending the item to municipal staff to work with the
federal and provincial government doesn't make sense.
"They are done with this issue," Carroll said, adding that both Ottawa
and Queen's Park have recognized the Armenian genocide.
"The federal government will simply mail back to municipal staff
pieces of paper."
Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti argued the request shouldn't be in front
of the executive committee and should go to staff.
"I'm sorry that I don't know international law but I'm a councillor
for crying out loud who makes $105,000 a year," Mammoliti said.
"I apologize for that, I apologize if I upset anybody but I was
elected to cut grass, to fill potholes, make sure curbs are in place
and to make sure my constituents are happy with the municipal level of
government."
Mammoliti told Carroll he didn't "appreciate" her bringing federal
issues into the council chamber.
"It divides Torontonians and it divides us in council," he said.
http://www.torontosun.com/2014/04/24/executive-committee-defers-armenian-genocide-memorial-proposal
April 24 2014
Executive committee defers Armenian genocide memorial proposal 25
By Don Peat, City Hall Bureau Chief
TORONTO - A push by Toronto's Armenian community to have a monument on
public land commemorating the Armenian genocide will likely have to
wait until next year.
The city's executive committee voted Wednesday to send a request to
commemorate the Armenian genocide with a donated monument on public
land marking the 100th anniversary in 2015 to staff for consultation
with both Armenian and Turkish groups along with the federal and
provincial governments.
A report back isn't expected until early 2015 - after the municipal election.
That vote came after the executive committee spent most of the
afternoon hearing from members of the city's Armenian and Turkish
communities about the proposal.
Residents of Armenian descent told the committee they supported the
idea of a monument to mark - as described in Councillor Shelley
Carroll's motion - "the systematic extermination by the Ottoman Empire
of its minority Armenian subjects."
Speakers from the city's Turkish community objected to the monument
and argued it would spread hatred against their community.
Carroll had brought forward the request after being approached by the
Armenian National Committee of Toronto and wasn't impressed with
Wednesday's decision.
"It may well shelve it in this term of office," Carroll said.
"What I would call it is disingenuously deep-sixing something."
Asked when she thinks the monument would be built, Carroll said "this
monument will be installed on the 12th ... of never."
Carroll said sending the item to municipal staff to work with the
federal and provincial government doesn't make sense.
"They are done with this issue," Carroll said, adding that both Ottawa
and Queen's Park have recognized the Armenian genocide.
"The federal government will simply mail back to municipal staff
pieces of paper."
Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti argued the request shouldn't be in front
of the executive committee and should go to staff.
"I'm sorry that I don't know international law but I'm a councillor
for crying out loud who makes $105,000 a year," Mammoliti said.
"I apologize for that, I apologize if I upset anybody but I was
elected to cut grass, to fill potholes, make sure curbs are in place
and to make sure my constituents are happy with the municipal level of
government."
Mammoliti told Carroll he didn't "appreciate" her bringing federal
issues into the council chamber.
"It divides Torontonians and it divides us in council," he said.
http://www.torontosun.com/2014/04/24/executive-committee-defers-armenian-genocide-memorial-proposal