BAIRD MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF UKRAINIAN CANADIAN COMMUNITY
During a visit to Toronto early in the new year, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird met with local Ukrainian Canadian community leaders and stakeholders. The roundtable, hosted by Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre and Chair of the Canada Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group Ted Opitz, served as a forum during which the Minister was able to directly communicate the federal government’s priorities regarding Ukraine.
“Ukraine remains a 2015 challenge, not just for Canada but for the civilized world,” Baird stated, “[and] it’s not exclusively about eastern Ukraine, we have to keep Crimea on the agenda.” He went on to say that “[The Canadian government] will also continue to keep up the pressure with the lost MH17 flight. Justice for that will continue to be on the table.”
Throughout the meeting those present had the opportunity to address their concerns and recommendations to the Minister. President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Paul Grod outlined four critical areas in which Canada could assist Ukraine. These included military support for Ukraine, expanding international trade with Ukraine in order to help rebuild the country’s tattered economy, contributing to a financial aid package and encouraging its allies to do the same, and continuing to put pressure on Europe to support Ukraine internationally.
Concerns were also raised regarding claims that Canadian military aid to Ukraine was falling victim to corruption. “We have seen an increased propaganda campaign [claiming] that Canadian military aid is being mishandled in Ukraine because of corruption, that it’s not being delivered to the troops,” said Ihor Kozak, External Relations Director at the League of Ukrainian Canadians. “But this is part of Russia’s information warfare against Ukraine in order to drive a wedge between Ukraine and Canada, to show that Canada should not be helping Ukraine.”
Kozak, who personally took part in deliveries of Canadian military aid to Ukraine in September and November of last year, reassured the Minister that the aid indeed reached its targeted destination, was accounted for, and distributed in full, as was witnessed by Ukrainian and Canadian Members of Parliament, the Canadian embassy, and documented by Ukrainian volunteers and journalists.
“Don’t worry, that has no effect on us,” responded Baird. “We should clear up any stories so there’s no doubt, but that doesn’t have any impact on us.”
Minister Baird also noted that free trade negotiations with Ukraine had been restarted, acknowledging their urgency as trade with Ukraine’s traditional major trading partner Russia has largely been blocked.
Another key issue raised during the discussion was sanctions and their effectiveness. “Unfortunately the sanctions on Crimea obviously have not worked,” admitted Baird, also noting that despite the sanctions implemented so far, the situation in eastern Ukraine “hasn’t gotten any better.” “These are two key things we have to keep in mind,” he said.
“The requirement of getting 28 countries to unanimously agree to sanctions has become incredibly difficult,” Baird acknowledged, “but we will continue to keep the pressure on. We will continue to further strengthen our sanctions to lead by example.”
The question of NATO membership for Ukraine was raised throughout the course of the meeting, with community stakeholders stressing its importance not only for Ukraine’s security, but for Europe’s security as well. “[Canada] has been a big supporter of the open door policy,” stated Baird, explaining that the Canadian position has always been one of supporting the admission of new members, particularly those facing potential threats from outside aggressors.
On the issue of knowledge exchange and capacity building in Ukraine, Minister Baird unequivocally assured those present that the Canadian government is “prepared to do whatever we can to send officials, skills, and expertise” covering a wide range of issue areas including finance, corruption, border management, and tariffs. “We not only have the capacity, but our motive is very clear, very clear and genuine.”
Speaking more generally on the importance of the crisis in Ukraine, Baird reaffirmed that “It is one of the two or three big challenges on the global agenda when it comes to international peace and security… and [it] has to continue to be high on the agenda.”
During a visit to Toronto early in the new year, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird met with local Ukrainian Canadian community leaders and stakeholders. The roundtable, hosted by Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre and Chair of the Canada Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group Ted Opitz, served as a forum during which the Minister was able to directly communicate the federal government’s priorities regarding Ukraine. 
