UCPB Federation Meets MP Peggy Nash

On August 16, representatives from the UCPBF met with Peggy Nash, Toronto MP for Parkdale-High Park, to discuss a number of issues of specific concern to the Ukrainian Canadian community. The UCPBF delegation included Raya Shadursky (a former UCPBF President), Roman Chyczyj, Ihor Bardyn and Mykhailo Wawryshyn, UCPBF President.

             The President opened the dialogue by commending the parliamentarian for taking a special interest in matters of importance to our community and thanked her finding the time to meet with the Federation. After introducing the members of the delegation, Wawryshyn outlined the nature, scope, interests and many accomplishments of the UCPBF. He also outlined the role of the UCPBF’s involvement of various aspects of Canadian public policy development, such as input in Multiculturalism, Immigration, Canada’s Constitution and Canadian Foreign Policy.

            The creation of a “Canada House” along the lines of the one (facing Trafalgar Square) in London, England, was the first item on the agenda. Since Canada declared that it has a “special relationship” with Ukraine, it would be most appropriate and desirable that such an institution be established (in Ukraine’s Capitol, Kyiv). “It would give this ‘relationship’ a true meaning” stated Wawryshyn. “A Canada House would serve as a meeting place where Canadians would meet Ukrainians on a personal, face-to-face basis. It would showcase a variety of aspects from Canada – the Arts, culture, industry and business. A Canada House would prove to be a ‘win – win’ situation. It would indeed develop a ‘special relationship’ between Canada and Ukraine.”

            Nash along with several other parliamentarians has been an advocate of a Canada House along with Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Abina M. Dann.

            Settling the long-standing issue of redress for the wrongs perpetrated against Canadians of Ukrainian origin during the First World War needs to be resolved as quickly as possible. The latest terms proposed by the Federal Government are totally unrealistic and unacceptable. The Federation stressed that the Conservative Government’s proposal breeds cynicism towards government, especially after our community was led to believe that the issue was mutually resolved in Regina in August 2005 when Former Prime Minister, The Hon. Paul Martin, announced that an agreement was successfully negotiated. The newly elected Tory government then announced that the agreement was not a “binding one”.

            The Canadian Museum for Human Rights was the third issue raised with Nash. The UCPBF, although supporting the Museum and the fact that it was now designated as government (federal) museum, still had reservations about its governance. The UCPBF was troubled by the role that the Asper Foundation would have in the administration of the Museum, fearing that the Holodomor Famine Genocide in Ukraine 1932-33 would not be part of the permanent display and that it might not receive the proper treatment, topped the list of concerns.

The September parliamentary election in Ukraine and Canada’s role as an observer was the final issue on the agenda. The UCPBF, led by Ron Chyczyj, updated Nash on some of the more significant changes to Ukraine’s Election Act as well as the importance of this election to Ukraine’s future. “Our help is needed like never before” stated Chyczyj. Nash stated that she would do all in her power to ensure that Canada would again send a parliamentary delegation to Ukraine to serve as election observers, as was the case during the last presidential election preceded by the Orange Revolution.

As a memento of the meeting, Nash was presented with a copy of the newly-published book Genocide in Ukraine, by Peter Kardash of Australia.