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OTTAWA — The newly opened National Holocaust Monument will close for winter to avoid any damage that could be caused by the need to clear snow.

But the fact so much time and expense went into the soaring concrete structure just west of Parliament Hill, only to end up being closed for half the year, is raising questions about why the Liberal government can’t find a way to keep it open.

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The monument only opened in September, nearly a decade after the idea of creating it was first raised in the House of Commons.

The National Capital Commission said it will close the monument in late fall, depending on when snow arrives, reopening it early in the spring.

“As is for most of NCC monuments, the National Holocaust Monument will be closed during winter as snow-clearing operations can damage the monument,” Cedric Pelletier said in an email.

There’s no roof above the six triangles that make up the structure — when the monument was officially opened last month, heavy rains forced the ceremony into the Canadian War Museum across the street.