TORONTO, March 11, 2015 – Today MPP Yvan Baker gave the following statement on the crisis in Ukraine:
Member’s Statement – Yvan Baker, MPP
(Etobicoke Centre)
Mr. Speaker, in November I was in Ukraine with constituents from Etobicoke Centre where we met soldiers who were wounded during the Russian backed invasion of Ukraine. These fathers, brothers and sons all said that they were fighting for freedom and democracy – values that Canadians hold dear.
I am proud of what our Premier has done to support the Ukrainian people: she called on our federal government to impose sanctions, called for international observers and provided humanitarian aid.
Today, Ukraine is at war and the situation is dire. Russian-backed forces have occupied part of Eastern Ukraine and continue to advance. The soldiers I met are fighting against state-of-the-art equipment with outdated weapons, some from World War II.
This conflict touches us all. 14,000 civilians have died, 1 million have been displaced. The invasion is a global threat. It is a violation of international law and order established at such great cost during WWII.
The West’s words, sanctions and supplies have not worked. Efforts at peace have failed.
For Months, Ukraine’s president has been asking for defensive weapons so that his nation stands a chance against the larger and more advanced Russian military.
Others such as John McCain and John Boehner have echoed his call and the US Congress has passed authorization for the US to arm Ukraine.
I urge our federal government to act on the Ukrainian Canadian Congress’s Feb. 21st statement which calls for Canada to, and I quote: “dramatically increase sectoral sanctions”, “increase the provision of communications and intelligence capabilities” and “provide Ukraine with the defensive weapons, equipment and training it needs to defend its territorial integrity”.
This is important. Not only because Ukraine’s people stands little chance without our help. Not only because there is a humanitarian crisis and civilians need our help. But because the war in Ukraine is a threat to Europe, to global security, to our security and to the values that Canadians hold so dear.
