Date: April 28, 1993
Author: W. Donald Cousens, MPP for Markham
Addressed to: Valentina Krčmar, Director, Canadian Women’s Congress of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (and Mothers for Peace – Bedem Ljubavi)
View the Original Letter: krcmar book 2_Part91-5.pdf
About This Letter
This letter, dated April 28, 1993, was written by W. Donald Cousens, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Markham, in response to a complaint from Valentina Krčmar and the Canadian Women’s Congress of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding a TVOntario program that had aired misleading or biased content about the Bosnian War. The program in question, believed to be “Between the Lines,” had already prompted several letters of protest from Krčmar and other community groups earlier that month.
MPP Cousens’ response is firm and sympathetic, reflecting a clear understanding of the moral weight of Krčmar’s concerns. He acknowledges receipt of her letter to Premier Bob Rae and expresses his own outrage at what he calls “perverse propaganda.”
“By copy of this letter to the Honourable Anne Swarbrick, Minister of Culture, I certainly would like to hear an explanation from the government on how such perverse propaganda could be allowed on TV Ontario.”
In forwarding the matter to both Minister of Culture Anne Swarbrick and Ted Arnott, MPP and PC Culture Critic, Cousens effectively elevated the issue to a provincial level of accountability. His action demonstrates a willingness to confront what Krčmar and her colleagues viewed as dangerous misinformation — coverage that undermined public understanding of the atrocities in Bosnia and Croatia.
This letter, though brief, represents a moment of validation for Mothers for Peace and the broader Croatian-Canadian advocacy network. It shows that their persistence in writing to officials and demanding accountability had begun to resonate within Canadian political circles. Cousens’ support not only lent legitimacy to their efforts but also amplified their call for truth and integrity in public broadcasting.
