Cold War Canada

Marcus Kolga:
The "Positive Brand" of Estonia's Waffen SS?

Even Marcus Kolga, president of the Estonian Central Council (ECC) in Canada and vice president of the Estonian World Council (EWC), is concerned about EKRE. The problem with EKRE, he says, is that it has sullied Estonia’s "positive brand" with its "racist, antisemitic and sexist" talk.1 But to Kolga, Estonia’s "positive brand" is not damaged by the extremely toxic anticommunism and Russophobia that is characterized by the Government of Estonia's official glorification of that country's Waffen SS legion. Kolga is far from being a critique of Estonian Waffen SS division which was created, funded, armed and led by Nazi Germany. Although the Nazi's SS "brand" included mass murder, ethnic cleansing, death camps, and the commission of countless international crimes against humanity, crimes against peace and war crimes, Kolga refers to such military units as "freedom fighters." Nazi Germany's invasion of the USSR, which killed 27 million Soviet citizens, is of no apparent concern to Kolga.

Instead, Kolga expresses his outraged concern that Canadian journalists, like Scott Taylor, have "mischaracterized Ukrainian and Baltic freedom fighters who resisted Soviet occupation as Nazis."2 Kolga defends Nazi SS divisions and other fascist military units, by trying to whitewash, memorialize and rehabilitate them as noble, antiSoviet "freedom fighters."

Journalist Scott Taylor, is characterized by Marcus Kolga (ECC pres. & EWC vice pres.), as having "mischaracterized Ukrainian and Baltic freedom fighters who resisted Soviet occupation as Nazis."

In so doing, Kolga tries to discredit Taylor who writes columns in Halifax's Chronicle Herald and for the prominent Canadian military magazine which he founded, Esprit de Corps. Much to Kolga's chagrin, Taylor's writings have exposed the glorification of fascist WWII military units by Baltic governments.

In Kolga's extremely Russophobic report on "the threat of Russian disinformation" (published by Canada's right-wing MacDonald-Laurier Institute3), also attempts to discredit the work of Ottawa Citizen reporter, David Pugliese. Kolga takes offence at Pugliese's articles that reveal ongoing, official Baltic-state support for their wartime collaboration with Nazi Germany. Kolga's spin on these news articles was to try to smear Pugliese by saying that he "essentially parroted the Kremlin’s tailored narratives about those nations being neo-fascists." As a forthright apologist for the Estonia's wartime collaboration with Germany against Canada's Soviet ally, Kolga characterizes today's SS-revering Baltic governments as victims by calling them "states targeted by Kremlin aggression."4

Urmas Reinsalu:
Canada stands united with a leading Estonian
apologist for the Nazi's Waffen SS

"Estonian] Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu [right] met with Canadian Ambassador to Estonia Kevin Rex on Friday [May 31, 2019], where the two affirmed good relations between Estonia and Canada as well as discussed the security situation.

"'Canada is one of our most valuable allies in terms of ensuring security," Reinsalu said. "We appreciate Canada's contributions to security in our region, particularly through its participation in NATO's enhanced Forward Presence (eFP).'

"The minister and the Canadian ambassador emphasized the two states' mutual commitment to defending a world order based on international law as well as contributing to ensuring peace in the world in general."

Source: "Reinsalu meets with Canadian ambassador, reaffirms good bilateral relations, June 1, 2019.

Before becoming ambassador to the Baltic states, Kevin Rex worked for Canada's Privy Council Office and for CIDA in Afghanistan. At the same time as these two postings, Rex "concurrently served as an officer in the Army Reserves."

Source: Biographical notes - diplomatic appointments, Global Affairs Canada

In 2012, Estonia passed a law declaring Estonia’s SS Legion as "freedom fighters." This Valentine’s Day Law was roundly welcomed by Estonia's new "Defense" Minister, Urmas Reinsalu. He even made "a publicly stated wish to see in [Estonia's capitol city] Tallinn 'one day soon' a new statue erected specifically for the 'freedom fighters" rehabilitated by the act."5

In 2014, Reinsalu celebrated SS soldier Harald Nugiseks, who had received the Nazi’s highest medal. When Nugiseks was buried with full Estonian military honors, Reinsalu eulogised him as "a legendary Estonian soldier" who battled for "freedom."6 Later, in 2018, when he was Estonia's justice minister, Reinsalu sent warm greetings to a 2018 ceremony that venerated Estonia’s Waffen SS.7

In 2019, Reinsalu decried Venezuela’s elected leader. Blasting Russia for aiding Venezuela's duly-elected government of what he called "communist fanatics," Reinsalu joined Canada and the US in endorsing the ultraright coup efforts of Juan Guaido, a right-wing politician who declared himself president.8

In May 2019, after speaking with Canada's then-foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, Reinsalu said that the two states "stand united" with Ukraine against Russia. Reinsalu said he especially "appreciate[d]... the Canada-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group" in Latvia.9 This Battle Group is based on wildly Russophobic fabrications which claim that Moscow plans to invade the Baltics.

References and notes

1. Marcus Kolga, "The new far-right is sinking Estonia’s international reputation – who is responsible?"
Estonian World, May 15, 2019. http://bit.ly/SullyingEstonianBrand

2. Marcus Kolga, Stemming the VIRUS: Understanding and responding to the threat of Russian disinformation, January 2019, p.15. http://bit.ly/KolgaRussophobia

Note: Kolga's report references work by the author of this article (Richard Sanders) in the context of what he calls "pro-Kremlin media and trolls." In particular, Kolga mentions this article:
Richard Sanders (March 2017) “Part 9: The Ukrainian Canadian Congress and its Fascist Roots,” Minister Freeland’s Grandfather, Michael Chomiak, the Nazi’s Top Ukrainian Propagandist: Fake news, mighty wurlitzers, historical amnesia, and the elephant (or bear) in the room http://coat.ncf.ca/research/Chomiak-Freeland/C-F_9.htm

Kolga's report on "the threat of Russian disinformation" lists the following articles by Scott Taylor as examples which demonstrate that he "mischaracterized Ukrainian and Baltic freedom fighters who resisted Soviet occupation as Nazis":

“Nazi Monuments Uncomfortable Canadian Truth,” Winnipeg Free Press, November 2, 2017
“Nazis, NATO, and Canada’s Latvian Love-in,” Canadian Dimension, March 19, 2017
“On Target: Latvia deployment unnecessary, wasteful,” Chronicle Herald, May 14, 2017.
“On Target: Nazi connections: Minister Freeland deflects and Latvia openly celebrates,” Esprit de Corps, March 13, 2017
“Canada Should Denounce Those Who Glorify Latvia’s Nazi Past,” Hill Times, March 14, 2018
“On Target: Defence dollars spent in Latvia better spent at home in Canada,” Esprit de Corps, Feb. 5, 2018
“On Target: ‘Glorifying Nazis is bad, period,’” Chronicle Herald, May 6, 2018
“On Target: Missions a massive waste,” Chronicle Herald, October 9, 2018
“On Target: No denying Latvia’s Nazi past,” Esprit de Corps, March 12, 2018.

3. Marcus Kolga is a "senior fellow" of the MacDonald-Laurier Institute.
https://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/experts/marcus-kolga/

This right-wing think tank is named after Canada's long-glorified heroes: Sir John A. MacDonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier. These two prime ministers were the prime political architects of the Dominion of Canada. As such they are responsible for laying the strong foundations upon which the Government of Canada's extremely racist, xenophobic and genocidal policies were built.

Here is some background on these two criminals whose "brand" is still glorified and revered by the MacDonald-Laurier Institute:

[Sir] Wilfrid Laurier (1841-1919):
"In 1900, Laurier increased the head tax on Chinese immigrants to $100 per person, and then again to $500 per person a few years later. [This $500 (the equivalent of $11,262 in 2020) was far beyond what a Chinese migrant could then afford.]

"On the occasion of the first increase to the head tax under his authority, Laurier said: 'In my opinion, there is not much room for the Chinaman in Canada. He displaces a good Canadian, or a good British subject.'

"Laurier also opposed the immigration of black people into Canada.

"On Aug. 12, 1911, his cabinet approved an order-in-council which stated: 'For a period of one year from and after the date hereof the landing in Canada shall be and the same is prohibited of any immigrants belonging to the Negro race, which race is deemed unsuitable to the climate and requirements of Canada.' Laurier’s signature sealed the deal.

"[I]n the House of Commons in 1886 [Laurier spoke] about the nation’s right to take land from 'savage nations' because a Canada under Indigenous control would 'forever have remained barren and unproductive, but which under civilized rule would afford homes and happiness to teeming millions.'"

[Sir] John A. Macdonald (1815-1891)
"First and longest serving prime minister of Canada (1867–1873, 1878–1891), longest serving aboriginal affairs minister (1878-1888)....

"In addition to being the PM who signed the first anti-Asian immigration policy into law (the 1885 Chinese Immigration Act, which placed a $50 dollar head tax on any Chinese person emigrating to Canada), Macdonald is considered by many to be the architect of Canada’s most genocidal policies concerning Indigenous people.

"As aboriginal affairs minister, he laid the foundations for the Indian Act, the residential school system and the Department of Indian Affairs.

"We know now that each of these caused unthinkable suffering and trauma, which endures to this day, as they worked to destroy and control the culture of Indigenous people.

"Macdonald pushed for the residential schools to be designed the way they ultimately were because, as he said, 'When the school is on the reserve the child lives with its parents, who are savages; he is surrounded by savages, and though he may learn to read and write... he is simply a savage who can read and write... [T]he Indian children should be withdrawn as much as possible from the parental influence.'

"As if that weren’t enough, Macdonald starved Indigenous people in the Prairies in order to clear a path for the transcontinental railway by forcing them to move to federal reserves."

Emma Renaerts, "Oh No, My Street’s Named after a Racist!" May 23, 2019, The Tyee, https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2019/05/23/Racist-Street-Names/

4. Kolga, Stemming the VIRUS, op.cit., p.59.

5. Leena Hietanen and Petri Krohn, "Estonia’s 2012 'Valentine’s Day Law,'" Defending History, May 26, 2012. http://bit.ly/EstoniaLaw-proSS

6. Leena Hietanen and Petri Krohn, "Estonia’s Last 'Knight’s Cross' Waffen SS Man Gets Full-Honors Military Funeral," Defending History, January 13, 2014. http://bit.ly/Reinsalu-Nugiseks

7. "Netanyahu's Baltic trip ignores rehabilitation of Nazis," Morning Star for Peace and Socialism," August 24, 2018. http://bit.ly/Reinsalu-SS

8. Urmas Reinslau, "Estonia must immediately recognize the Speaker of the Parliament as the interim President of Venezuela, not the Communist Maduro," Eesti Päevaleht, Jan. 26, 2019. (Translation from Estonian.) http://bit.ly/Reinsalu-Venezuela

9. "Reinsalu discusses Ukraine with Canadian counterpart," Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR News), May 24, 2019. http://bit.ly/Reinsalu-Freeland

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