Canadian issues

Yesterday, the UCC welcomed His Excellency Andriy Shevchenko as Ukraine's new Ambassador to Canada. At a ceremony at Rideau Hall, Ambassador Shevchenko presented his letters of credence to Canada's Governor General, the Right Honourable David Johnston. "I am very honoured to be appointed Ukraine's Ambassador to Canada" stated Ambassador Shevchenko. "Canada is one of Ukraine's greatest friends in the international community and I look forward to working towards deepening the bilateral cooperation and trade relations between...

On September 18 Canadian Minister of Defense Jason Kenney announced that a re-elected Conservative government would strengthen economic ties with Ukraine by opening a new Export Development Canada (EDC) Office in Kyiv. “The pledge to open a new trade office demonstrates the Conservative government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening economic ties with Ukraine," said Kenney. “This new trade office will significantly strengthen our economic relationship and encourage export development to a growing, prosperous Ukraine.” The trade office will help businesses get their...

In a recent announcement, Ontario Minister of Education Liz Sandals stated that the Government of Ontario would be committing $750,000 to support the Holodomor Mobile Classroom and the Holodomor National Awareness Tour. The “classroom,” which will take form in a specially configured RV bus, is meant to “build understanding, respect, and global citizenship” amongst Canadian youth. The Holodomor – a man-man famine engineered by the Soviet regime of Joseph Stalin – killed millions of Ukrainians in 1932-33. It is a well-known topic among hundreds of...

On May 26, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Toronto Branch and the League of Ukrainian Canadians co-hosted a special reception at Queen’s Park to express their appreciation to the Government of Ontario for moving forward with the inclusion of the Holodomor - the 1932-1933 genocidal famine in Ukraine - in the newly revised History and Social Studies secondary school curriculum in Ontario. Prior to the reception, Etobicoke-Centre MPP Yvan Baker delivered a brief statement in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on the importance of recognizing the Holodomor and honouring its victims. Special guests at the event included...

Valentina Lisitsa, a well-known classical pianist whose Twitter feed regularly features barbed political commentary about the conflict in Ukraine, was dropped from two performances this week with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, after the ensemble cited concerns over her "deeply offensive" and "provocative" online remarks. Lisitsa, a Ukrainian-American who was scheduled to perform Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Toronto Symphony (TSO) this Wednesday and Thursday, took to Facebook on Monday to accuse the orchestra of censorship. "Yes, Toronto Symphony is...

On April 17, 2015 it was announced that Canada will be sending an additional 178 state-of-the-art night vision goggles to Ukraine. This newest shipment of specialized equipment compliments the 60 night vision goggles already delivered to Ukraine in March, bringing the total to 238. “We believe that these goggles will enhance the capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces in their fight to defend their country’s sovereignty and their territorial integrity,” stated Conservative MP Ted Opitz. The goggles, for which the Government of Canada has...

International Trade Minister Ed Fast joins Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre Ted Opitz and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for the Francophonie Bernard Trottier at a round table for Ukrainian-Canadian community leaders from the Greater Toronto Area to discuss recent events in Ukraine and the Canadian-Ukrainian partnership. Canada is at the forefront of the international support for the Ukrainian people in their opposition to...

On 28 October 2014 Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij spoke to members of the University of Ottawa Ukrainian Students’ Club in Ottawa, Canada, on the topic World Crisis with Ukraine in the Forefront. In his address the UWC President noted that EuroMaidan was testimony to the maturity and unity of the Ukrainian nation in the fight for the ideals of democracy and Ukrainian statehood, and debunked the myth about the invincibility of the Russian Federation. He also emphasized that events surrounding the annexation of Crimea by Russia and its current aggression in Eastern Ukraine constitute a global crisis. Eugene Czolij further shared information about the work of the UWC dedicated to...

In the House of Commons, James Bezan, Member of Parliament for Selkirk-Interlake gave the following statement on the illegal elections held in Eastern Ukraine: “Mr. Speaker, “Just one week after the Ukrainian Parliamentary Elections, the Kremlin-backed terrorist groups of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics held pseudo-elections in Eastern Ukraine that were illegal and illegitimate. “Ballots were cast in the presence of armed men, and information was actively spread that those who did not come to vote would be deemed "disloyal" and judged according to martial law. “Pensioners were told...

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) shares the sadness of the Canadian people over the killings of soldiers in two separate incidents, the most recent in the nation’s capital city Ottawa. “The Ukrainian World Congress expresses condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in these senseless acts of violence, and we stand with all Canadians in defence of the freedom and democratic principles to which these men were...