Ukrainian Community Honours Architects of Parliament Holodomor Bill

On Thursday, June 19, 2008, the Ukrainian community will host a reception at Toronto’s Golden Lion Restaurant honouring two Ukrainian-Canadians – MP James Bezan and the Honourable Senator Raynell Andreychuk – the parliamentary architects of Canada’s Holodomor Bill.

The event will be hosted by Canadian Friends of Ukraine, who helped draft the Canadian legislation, and the League of Ukrainian Canadians, organizers of the historic exhibit Holodomor: Genocide by Famine, which will be on display at the event.

Manitoba Conservative MP James Bezan’s Private Member’s Bill C-459 An Act to establish a Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day and to recognize the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 as an act of genocide passed in Parliament’s House of Commons and Senate of Canada. The Bill became law on May 30 when it received Royal Assent.

On May 26, after the historic bilateral summit in Ottawa between Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko, the Harper Cabinet announced that it would recognize the Holodomor as an act of genocide. The Government’s historic decision makes Canada one of the first Western nations to recognize the 1932-33 Ukrainian Famine-Terror as a deliberate act of genocide which claimed over 7 million people as its victim.

With the support of all political parties, Conservative MP James Bezan’s historic bill was fast-tracked through all stages of reading and debate and passed by parliamentarians on May 27th. The next day, Conservative Senator Raynell Andreychuk sponsored Mr. Bezan’s Bill for quick passage in the Senate of Canada. Senator Andreychuk, the catalyst for Canadian legislative efforts to recognize the Ukrainian Famine as an act of genocide, was recognized for this and her significant humanitarian work and awarded the Order of Yaroslav the Wise from Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko during his visit to Parliament Hill.

Community leaders, the clergy, students, and community organization supporters engaged in Holodomor Famine-Genocide awareness activities are encouraged to attend this special event to celebrate this historic achievement.

Reception tickets are $45 and include dinner with programme. Tickets are available at West Arka (416) 762-8751, Buduchnist Credit Union, or by calling (416) 894-5518 or (416) 452-5658.