Meeting with Canadian Ukrainian Leaders

January 31, 2014 – Prime Minister Stephen Harper, along with the Hon. Jason Kenney, Canada’s Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, Ted Opitz, MP for Etobicoke Centre, James Bezan, MP for Selkirk-Interlake, and Senator Raynell Andreychuk met yesterday with leaders from Canada’s Ukrainian community to discuss the evolving situation in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister stated that Canada remains concerned with the situation in Ukraine and continues to monitor it closely.

The community members thanked the Prime Minister for Canada’s commitment and its leadership on this troubling issue, and for its decision to restrict entry to Canada for key Ukrainian government and security officials responsible for the repression and silencing of opposition voices.

They shared examples of the repression taking place in Ukraine.

All parties agreed that Canada must continue to monitor developments and consider all options to help bring to bear pressure on those seeking to stifle freedom and democracy in Ukraine.

PHOTO

From L. to R.: The Hon. Jason Kenney, Ewhen Czolij, Ihor Bardyn, Ted Opitz, Adriana Buyniak Willson, Bohdan Onyschuk, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Paul Grod, Lesia Shymko, Senator Raynell Andreychuk, Orest Steciw, James Bezan and Taras Zalusky