The Xournal package requires this package. If you refer to https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=885777#17, it appears that this package has been flagged for removal somewhat over-zealously:
"libgnomecanvas is not related to libgnome in any way despite the name. It provides a high-performance canvas widget for GTK2, it is the standard canvas widget for GTK2. There is no good replacement for GTK3. I am not aware of any serious issues with it apart from it being old." I depend on Xournal, and as there is no suitable GTK3 replacement, I'm curious whether it is possible to appeal the decision to remove libgnomecanvas on the grounds that it apperntly is not part of the libgnome code base.