The New Pathway has learned that Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Denis Coderre has made a recommndation to Cabinet to revoke the citizenship of Toronto resident Wasyl Odynsky. Last year, Federal Court Justice Andrew Mackay found that on a “balance of probabilities”, Odynsky misled authorities when applying to immigrate to Canada in 1949. Below is one letter a concerned citizen wrote to perhaps sway the opinion of Cabinet.

Oksana Bashuk Hepburn

I have learned that Cabinet will soon be making a decision regarding the fate of Mr Wasyl Odynsky. The choice: to let him stay in Canada or to extradite him for allegations of having lied upon entry here.

As you very well know, Prime Minister, we live in complex times where it is hard enough to pinpoint the veracity of events, in particular international conflicts, be it in the Middle East or elsewhere, and to categorically ascribe fault. It is that much harder to ascertain whether a 17-year-old village youth had the wherewithal and, equally important, the authority to commit the crimes that he has been accused of committing.

Furthermore, as Justice MacKay wrote in his statement regarding the case, it is very difficult, if not impossible in 50-year hindsight to determine whether Mr Odynsky knowingly lied about his association with the occupying forces of Ukraine the Germans upon entering Canada after the World War II.

The purpose of this letter is to ask you and members of Cabinet who will be deliberating on this matter to give an aging man the benefit of doubt and to render a decision on the human rather than the vengeful side of justice. This would be, it seems to me, the Canadian way of handling the case.

Please allow Mr Odynsky to live out his remaining years in Canada. His suffering has been immeasurable.

With a firm belief in your and your Cabinet colleagues’ sense of what is right and with warm regards I remain yours truly.

Oksana Bashuk Hepburn is the Past National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Federation and an Executive Member of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress