The Liberal MLA for Nelson-Creston and the Conservative MP for Southern Interior have added their voices to the chorus of opposition to plans for a monument in Nelson to honour U.S. draft dodgers and deserters.

As many as 125,000 young Americans came to Canada during the 1960s and 70s because of their opposition to the Vietnam War – with some of them settling in the Nelson area.

Anti-Vietnam War protest
Anti-Vietnam War protest

Blair Suffredine says he finds it inappropriate to build a memorial to people who "ran and hid" during the war, and says he's been hearing from lots of offended Americans.

"I hope it simply dies down and the people realize it's not an initiative that's likely to happen," says the Liberal MLA.

Proposed monument
Proposed monument

"And if it does, it's something that some private individuals are doing, and they'll have to decide where to put it, because I certainly wouldn't support putting it in any public location."

The Conservative MP for the area, Jim Gouk, says he supports the right to protest war. But he also says a permanent monument to war resisters would be disrespectful to Canadian veterans.

The story got widespread coverage on the FOX News network recently, triggering angry denunciations from U.S. veterans' groups, who call it a "memorial to cowards."