YVAN BAKER AND LIBERAL MPS REQUEST URGENT TAKE-NOTE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON UKRAINE AND THE THREAT FROM RUSSIA; ALSO REQUEST EMERGENCY DEBATE IF NO AGREEMENT AMONG PARTIES - Politics

25.01.2022

YVAN BAKER AND LIBERAL MPS REQUEST URGENT TAKE-NOTE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON UKRAINE AND THE THREAT FROM RUSSIA; ALSO REQUEST EMERGENCY DEBATE IF NO AGREEMENT AMONG PARTIES

Leader of the Government in the House of Commons responds affirmatively, says government will support prioritizing an urgent debate

ETOBICOKE – Yesterday, Yvan Baker, MP (Etobicoke Centre), along with 8 Liberal MPs, sent a letter to the Hon. Mark Holland, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, requesting an urgent Take-Note Debate in the House of Commons on Ukraine and Russia's military buildup on its borders. They also requested the holding of an Emergency Debate on this issue if there is no consensus amongst all parties to hold this debate.

“Yesterday, I was proud to be joined by MP colleagues in sending a letter to the Hon. Mark Holland, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, requesting an urgent Take-Note Debate in the House of Commons on Ukraine and Russia's military buildup on its borders. If there is no consensus amongst all parties to hold this debate, we requested the holding of an Emergency Debate on this issue,” said MP Baker.

“Recently, Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders along with significant military assets. This further Russian aggression is a major threat not only to Ukraine’s security, but also to that of the rest of Europe, our other allies and to Canada. The situation is critical. Russia must de-escalate and engage in meaningful dialogue. Its aggression against Ukraine must stop, and it must withdraw its forces from Crimea and Eastern Ukraine,” wrote MP Baker and his colleagues in the letter.

“We have requested this Emergency Take-Note Debate in the House of Commons as it would provide a formal and urgent opportunity for Members of Parliament of all parties to discuss Canada’s and the international community’s response to this crisis, which is of such importance to Ukraine, to our allies and to Canada,” wrote MP Baker and his colleagues in the letter.

The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons positively responded shortly after receiving the letter on January 19th, tweeting “We have received this important letter from Liberal MP @Yvan_Baker. We fully agree with his call for an urgent debate in the House on Ukraine and the threat from Russia. We will support prioritizing an urgent debate as soon as the House returns.”

We, the undersigned Members of Parliament, urgently request that the government propose a Take-Note Debate in the House of Commons as soon as possible regarding the buildup of Russian military forces on Ukraine’s borders. If there is no consensus amongst all parties to hold this debate, we request that the government support the holding of an Emergency Debate on this issue.

In 2014, Russia twice invaded Ukraine: first in Crimea, which Russia then illegally annexed, then in eastern Ukraine. As we speak, Ukrainian men and women continue to risk and sacrifice their lives to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty against Russian forces. Since 2014, over 14,000 Ukrainians have been killed and over 1.5 million have been displaced.

Recently, Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders along with significant military assets. This further Russian aggression is a major threat not only to Ukraine’s security, but also to that of the rest of Europe, our other allies and to Canada.

Canada is a steadfast ally of the people of Ukraine. Canada’s support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity has been and continues to be unwavering. Canada’s Foreign Minister, the Hon. M lanie Joly, was in Ukraine this week to meet with Ukraine’s leaders and to reaffirm Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

On January 11, 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau spoke with President Zelenskyy and reaffirmed Canada’s steadfast support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The Prime Minister also emphasized that any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would have serious consequences, including coordinated sanctions.

On January 17, Minister Anand had a productive conversation with her Ukrainian counterpart, Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov. Minister Anand reaffirmed that Canada’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security is unequivocal.

The Canadian Armed Forces have been present in Ukraine since 2015 under Operation UNIFIER – training thousands of members of Ukraine’s security forces to help them defend Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Canada’s largest international military operation, Operation REASSURANCE, is also in Central and Eastern Europe as part of NATO’s assurance and deterrence measures.

The situation is critical. Russia must de-escalate and engage in meaningful dialogue. Its aggression against Ukraine must stop, and it must withdraw its forces from Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.

We request this Emergency Take-Note Debate in the House of Commons as it would provide a formal and urgent opportunity for Members of Parliament of all parties to discuss Canada’s and the international community’s response to this crisis, which is of such importance to Ukraine, to our allies and to Canada.