Date: April 28, 1993
Author: Bob Rae, Premier of Ontario
Addressed to: Valentina Krčmar, Director, Vladimir Krčmar Ltd. / Mothers for Peace – Bedem Ljubavi
View the Original Letter: krcmar book 2_Part91-6.pdf
About This Letter
This letter from Ontario Premier Bob Rae, dated April 28, 1993, was written in response to Valentina Krčmar’s formal complaint about the April 1, 1993 broadcast of TVOntario’s program “Between the Lines.” The program had drawn significant criticism from Krčmar and members of the Canadian Women’s Congress of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who denounced it as biased and insensitive in its portrayal of the Bosnian War.
Rae’s letter is courteous but procedural. He acknowledges Krčmar’s concerns, recognizing the clarity and conviction of her message:
“Thank you for letting me know your views about Between the Lines’ April 1, 1993 program. Your feelings are very clear.”
However, Rae distances his office from direct responsibility for the content aired on TVO, emphasizing that the broadcaster operates “at arm’s length from the government.”
“As TVOntario operates at arm’s-length from the government, the network’s board of directors is ultimately responsible for programming decisions.”
He directs Krčmar to Peter Herrndorf, then Chair of TVOntario, suggesting she raise her concerns directly with him:
“You may wish to raise your concerns with the Chair of TVOntario, Mr. Peter Herrndorf. You can write to him at P.O. Box 200, Station Q, Toronto, Ontario.”
While the letter stops short of promising any action, Rae’s acknowledgment demonstrates that Krčmar’s advocacy had reached the highest political levels in Ontario. Her coordinated campaign — which included letters to TVO, the Ministry of Culture, and Members of Provincial Parliament — successfully drew attention to what she viewed as the dangerous misrepresentation of the war and the suffering of Bosnian and Croatian civilians.
This exchange encapsulates the broader struggle of Mothers for Peace: ensuring that truth, compassion, and justice for victims of war were not distorted or ignored, even in distant media portrayals.
