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The Liberal government has decided to support the Memorial to the Victims of Communism, but the monument will cost far less, have a new design and, if built, will be on a different site.

Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly announced Thursday that, subject to approval by the National Capital Commission’s board, the memorial will move to the Garden of the Provinces and Territories from the controversial location next to the Supreme Court of Canada chosen by the previous Conservative government.

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The way the project was handled under the Conservatives was “too political, too divisive and ultimately far from its goal of remembering the horror of victims of communism,” Joly said.

The memorial’s purpose should be to generate empathy for people who have been victimized by communist regimes worldwide, she said. Instead, it divided Canadians.

“Commemorative monuments play a key role in reflecting the character, identity, history and values of Canadians,” Joly said. “They should be places of reflection, inspiration and learning, not shrouded in controversy.”