Date: April 28, 1993
Author: Mrs. Sylvia Heffernan, Member’s Assistant, on behalf of Hon. Walter McLean, P.C., M.P.
Addressed to: Valentina Krčmar, Director, Mothers for Peace – Bedem Ljubavi (Toronto Chapter)
View the Original Letter: krcmar book 2_Part91-7.pdf
About This Letter
Dated April 28, 1993, this letter from the office of Hon. Walter McLean, Member of Parliament for Waterloo, acknowledges receipt of Valentina Krčmar’s correspondence opposing TVOntario’s program “Between the Lines.” The letter, written by McLean’s assistant Mrs. Sylvia Heffernan, reflects the growing attention Krčmar’s advocacy was receiving among Canadian political representatives.
The note is brief but formal, confirming that Krčmar’s concerns have been received and will be presented to Mr. McLean personally:
“On behalf of the Hon. Walter McLean, I would like to acknowledge receipt of a copy of your letter to Premier Rae, received April 22, 1993, concerning your opposition to TV Ontario’s presentation of ‘Between the Lines.’”
“Please be assured that your correspondence will be brought to Mr. McLean’s attention at the earliest opportunity.”
Though procedural, this response represents another step in the escalating chain of correspondence surrounding “Between the Lines,” which Krčmar and the Canadian Women’s Congress of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina had condemned as propaganda that misrepresented the Bosnian War. By this point, multiple government offices — including those of Premier Bob Rae, MPP W. Donald Cousens, and now MP Walter McLean — had acknowledged her appeals.
This exchange illustrates Krčmar’s persistence in confronting misinformation and ensuring that political figures across all levels of government were made aware of the dangers of biased media coverage. Her advocacy extended beyond humanitarian aid; it was also a fight for truth and moral responsibility in how history would record the war in Croatia and Bosnia.
