A University of Toronto research project examining “post-Soviet” Canadian diaspora youth sparked backlash from Baltic embassies in Canada for echoing Kremlin disinformation and erasing the violent reality of Soviet occupation. Marcus warns in this July 4, 2025 National Post column that by portraying the USSR as a “multicultural experiment” and depicting Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as part of it, the project legitimizes Russian imperial narratives. Funded by SSHRC, the study’s framing risks distorting Canada’s historic support for Baltic independence and offending communities traumatized by Soviet repression. Kolga urges the university to correct these errors and engage affected communities to ensure historical accuracy and respect for sovereignty.
