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TORONTO — Prime Minister Stephen Harper launched into a full-throated attack on the evils of communism at a fundraiser on Friday for a monument to its victims.

In a lengthy key-note speech to the dinner, Harper took aim at Russian President Vladimir Putin and past adherents to communism.

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“During the 20th century, communism’s poisonous ideology and ruthless practices slowly bled into countries around the world, on almost every continent,” Harper said.

“The result was catastrophic. More than 100 million souls were lost — an almost incomprehensible number.”

The evening’s goal was to help raise money for Tribute to Liberty, which aims for a permanent memorial in Ottawa to communism’s “hundreds of millions” of victims.

In 2010, the Conservative government said it would support the monument.

Future generations of Canadians, Harper said, must be reminded that peace was earned through struggle and sacrifice.