The Memorial to the Victims of Communism has already been the focus of multiple controversies over its exact purpose, location, size and cost over the last 15 years. The price tag for the project has ballooned to an estimated $7.5 million — including $6 million in public funds — from an original budget of $1.5 million. The memorial, originally started by the Conservative government of then-prime minister Stephen Harper, was supposed to be funded entirely through private donations.

But taxpayers are now footing most of the bill as that private fundraising initiative fell far short when significant public financial support did not materialize.

The memorial was opened on Dec. 12, 2024. At that time, Ludwik Klimkowski, who leads Tribute To Liberty, the organization behind the memorial, said names would be added within a year.

But, when Klimkowski spoke at the official opening about adding the names, a protester shouted “No Nazis.”

Several hours later, the Liberal government issued a statement claiming that no specific timeline about the names had been agreed to by the federal government.