Address by Minister Dion to the XXV Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians

Canada and Ukraine: Shoulder to shoulder

October 1, 2016 – Regina, Saskatchewan

Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the Government of Canada’s official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with its communications policy.

I cannot thank you enough for inviting me to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Ukrainian immigration to Canada, the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress [UCC] and the 25th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.

This triple anniversary gives us a golden opportunity to take the measure of Canada’s Ukrainian dimension, because in some ways, Canada is a Ukrainian country.

Yes, we are a Ukrainian country in a way, not only because there are 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian origin. And not only because Ukrainian-Canadians have marvelled at the golden wheat fields stretching out below ‎a vast blue sky, which surely must have reminded them of Ukraine and the flag of their country of origin.

Yes, we benefit so much from our strong Ukrainian dimension, not only because Ukrainian-Canadians have given to Canada, as a gift, the most universal part of their culture, but also because Ukrainian-Canadians have been key in helping Canada to realize one of its fundamental identities, as a multicultural country.

And let me describe this through my own personal experience as a kid from the city of Québec. My father, Léon Dion, was a professor of political science at Laval University. In the 1960s he was the senior adviser to the “B and B commission,” that is, the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, or the Laurendeau-Dunton commission. (Some of you may remember it.) As you’ll recall, the concept at that time was biculturalism.

Years later, I asked my father how the concept of biculturalism became multiculturalism. He explained to me that it was the Ukrainian-Canadians, especially from the West, from the Prairies, who had been the most convincing advocates of this change. They explained, and especially to my father as a senior adviser to the royal commission, that the concept of a Canada shaped only by the British and the French was not an accurate description of the cultural richness of our country. It is because of this that Pierre Elliott Trudeau developed the policy of official bilingualism and multiculturalism, which eventually became provisions in our constitution, fundamental principles of our identity as a gift of the Ukrainian community of Canada.

And now, as the son of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Justin Trudeau, has put at the core of his government the idea of multiculturalism, the concepts of inclusive growth and strength in diversity, he may count on strong Ukrainian-Canadians, such as my colleagues MaryAnn Mihychuk, Chrystia Freeland, Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Kyle Peterson, Julie Dzerowicz and Ralph Goodale (who is almost Ukrainian).

But while Ukrainian-Canadians are contributing to the building of Canada, Ukraine itself lives in horror from a large part of its recent history, from Holodomor to the suppression of its culture through the long winter of the Soviet regime. When as a student in the 1970s I visited Kyiv, no one told me I was in Ukraine: I was in the Soviet Union.

At Ukraine’s independence 25 years ago, Canada felt that having benefited so much from our vibrant Ukrainian community, we needed to pay back and to help the new, free country. When I went back to Ukraine in December 2013 as a Canadian member of Parliament participating in an observation mission during by-elections, I was impressed to see so many Canadians everywhere proudly offering their skills and talents to Ukraine.

And since the unacceptable aggression of Russia against Ukraine, Canadians’ determination to support Ukraine only grows stronger. I saw that when I went back [to Ukraine] last winter as our minister of foreign affairs: I saw Canadians everywhere.

A striking example of this Canadian mobilization is the moving initiative in many of our provinces to provide emergency vehicles and expertise to help those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Ukrainian-Canadians and the UCC have shared in collecting donations [amounting to] $90,000 for an initiative that will cover the cost for 10 ambulances to be transported from Winnipeg, Toronto and Montréal to Kyiv in this time of need.

Today I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada will contribute $40,000 to ensure those ambulances are delivered to Kyiv to assist those suffering from the conflict.

During my visit last winter, I asked the Ukrainian authorities, “How can Canada do more for their country? What would be the top priority in receiving additional support from Canada?” I have been told again and again by everyone I have spoken to that the top priority would be to provide further support for a competent, professional and honest police service.

So when I came back, I said that to Prime Minister Trudeau. This is why I am here today: to announce on behalf of Prime Minister Trudeau and the whole government that Canada will provide $8.1 million in new funding to support the National Police of Ukraine.

This includes up to $6.6 million over three years in support of a police training assistance project and up to $1.5 million toward the Ukraine police equipment project to make Ukraine’s national police service more effective. This funding builds on Canada’s earlier support, such as the work of Canadian police officers on the ground to support and advise their Ukrainian counterparts.

Yes, Canada will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. Our bond is historic; our bond is durable. We will stand shoulder to shoulder to support Ukraine in its quest for a secure, stable and prosperous country that could serve as a model in the region and become in itself the best rebuke to [Russian president Vladimir] Putin’s attempts to determine its future.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine when we convey our views directly to Russia. When Prime Minister Trudeau spoke to President Putin, and when I met with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, we clearly signalled Canada’s profound disagreement with Russia’s unacceptable behaviour against Ukraine. We voiced how Russia’s actions represented—and still represent—a clear breach of international law and undermined peace and security in the region.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine when we take a leadership role in enhancing NATO’s deterrents toward Russia, including through the command of the multinational battalion in Latvia.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine when we insist to all our European allies that we must stick together and remain strong with our sanctions as long as Russia does not respect its Ukrainian neighbour and falls short of full implementation of the Minsk peace agreements. While much has been said and written about the shortcomings of these agreements, they remain the only path to a lasting peace.

Since Mr. Trudeau became prime minister, we have increased our sanctions against Russia, we have increased our support for Ukraine and we have engaged Russia directly. I said to Minister Lavrov that Russia must do its part toward the full implementation of the Minsk peace agreements; otherwise, we will be in the same position next year, but with more deaths, casualties and suffering. With our allies, we will redouble our pressure on President Putin in order to make Russia face its responsibilities, especially after the downing of [Malaysia Airlines] Flight MH17.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine through our free trade agreement and our defence cooperation.

We have also increased our contribution to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s special monitoring mission and have announced additional peacebuilding initiatives, including the key issue of demining.

As you see, Canada will be, more than ever, among the top donors providing humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable, conflict-affected people of Ukraine.

Only a few hours ago, on the other side of the planet, in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Trudeau and I met President [Petro] Poroshenko while we were paying our tributes and saying our farewells to a man of peace [Shimon Peres]. We want peace for the world. We want peace for Eastern Europe. We want peace for Ukraine. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine with responsible conviction.

Steadfast, resolute and as a determined peacebuilder, Canada will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, and in doing so, we will strengthen this Ukrainian dimension of our own that belongs to all Canadians and has always made us stronger: a great pillar of our past and a guiding light for our future.

Contacts

Chantal Gagnon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
343-203-1851
chantal.gagnon@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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