Holodomor Bill Introduced in Quebec and British Columbia

In Quebec City on November 25, 2009, members of the Quebec National Assembly (provincial legislature) voted unanimously to approve on first reading a bill to commemorate the Ukrainian genocide in the 1930s, when Soviet dictator Josef Stalin withheld food from Ukraine, leading to millions of deaths. The bill was presented by Parti Quebecois member Louise Beaudoin.

Should the bill receive final approval, the fourth Saturday in November will be designated to commemorate the Ukrainian  genocide, known as the Holodomor.

If passed, Quebec will be the fifth province to mark the genocide. The Provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario have enacted legislation recognizing the Holodomor and honouring the survivors of this crime against humanity.

Also on November 25, 2009, a private member’s bill was introduced in the Province of British Columbia recognizing the Holodomor as an act of genocide.

In Victoria, New Democrat MLA for Surrey-Whalley, Bruce Ralston, introduced legislation recognizing Holodomor as the “famine and genocide that killed millions of Ukrainians during the period of forced collectivization in the Soviet Union.” The legislation proposes that the fourth Saturday in November every year be commemorated as Holodomor Memorial Day in B.C. and recognizes the survivors of Holodomor who moved to British Columbia and made a positive contribution to the Province.

Fourteen representatives of the Province’s Ukrainian community  were present at the reading in support of Mr. Ralston and his efforts in promoting Holodomor recognition and awareness, including survivors Valentyna Kaspryk, Ihor Stanley Osibok and Maria Pomircha.

Also, in May 2008, the Harper government said it would recognize the Holodomor as genocide.

The genocide, in 1932 and 1933, was Stalin’s attempt to subdue the Ukrainian people by systematically starving them and restricting travel beyond their villages. The exact number of victims remains unclear.

Ukraine Remembers - the World Acknowledges!

Україна пам’ятає - Світ визнає!