MP Ted Opitz Participates in Committee Discussions on Ukraine

(House of Commons, Ottawa - March 9, 2012) This week, Ted Opitz, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre, participated in hearings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Discussions of the committee focused on the state of democracy in Ukraine.

Key members of the Ukrainian community in Canada and abroad appeared as witnesses before the committee, including Ihor Kozak from the League of Ukrainian Canadians National Executive, Alyona Hetmanchuk from the Institute of World Policy and Oleh Rybachuk, Chairman and co-founder of the NGO “Centre UA”.

MP Opitz’s questions shed light on the current state of Ukrainian democracy. First, he asked what the Government of Canada can do to ensure a fair electoral process in Ukraine in the medium and long term? Secondly, he questioned the witnesses on who in fact MPs in Ukraine really were.

“Issues affecting the Ukrainian community in Canada are a priority for me given the importance of the Ukrainian diaspora in our own riding of Etobicoke Centre and throughout Canada,” said Opitz. “I was happy to participate in committee discussions and recognize the contributions Canadian - Ukrainian community groups have made to advance the political, social and democratic development of Ukraine.”

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MP Ted Opitz