Wrzesnewskyj meets with Ukrainian Trade Delegation

OTTAWA– MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj, the Liberal Associate Foreign Affairs Critic and the Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group, met a Ukrainian Trade Delegation in Ottawa in March.

“Transforming Canada’s “special relationship” with Ukraine to a “strategic relationship” is something that I’ve worked very hard at. Strengthening Canada-Ukraine economic and political relations needs to continue to be developed and meetings between Canadian parliamentarians and trade delegations are an important part of that,” said Wrzesnewskyj.

The visiting delegation included Victor Mashtabei (Ambassador-at-Large, Foreign Affairs), Ludmyla Eugenievna (Deputy Head, International Cooperation, Ministry of Justice, Iryna Stepanivna Zhorniak (Deputy Head, International Cooperation, Ministry of Economy), and Maryna Petrivna Buchma (Project Coordinator, Foreign and Trade Policy Analyst Development Project).

Bohdan Myndiuk, of the Commerce and Foreign and Trade Policy Analysts Development Project, York University and a member of the Canada-Ukraine Chamber, accompanied the delegation.

 “The Liberal government of which I was a part delivered the goods when it came to Ukraine and Ukrainian Canadians: it was particularly rewarding that I was able to argue for placing Ukraine on the CIDA list of 25 Development Partners and I look forward to the new Minister of International Trade announcing a Kyiv Trade Desk, a project which was well on its way when the government fell in November of 2005,” stated Wrzesnewskyj.

After the meeting, Wrzesnewskyj escorted the Ukrainian delegation on a tour of Parliament and offered insight into Canada’s parliamentary history and the role played by Members of Parliament and the Senate.

While in Canada, the delegation will also be holding a series of meetings with representatives of Foreign Affairs and the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce.