Toronto – October 13, 2015. Leaders of the Ukrainian Canadian community met today with Justin Trudeau, the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, to discuss the priorities of the Ukrainian Canadian community and the UCC’s election questionnaire in advance of the October 19 federal election.
“We appreciate the opportunity to meet with Mr. Trudeau to address issues of importance to Canada’s 1.3 million strong Ukrainian community,” stated Ukrainian Canadian Congress National President Paul Grod. “We took the opportunity to discuss our priorities as outlined in the UCC election questionnaire with Mr. Trudeau and engage in a serious discussion on issue related to Canada-Ukraine relations, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, multiculturalism and immigration.”
The UCC sent a questionnaire to all party leaders and candidates earlier in the election campaign and used the opportunity to discuss the Liberal Leader’s responses with Mr. Trudeau on the following issues:
Russia’s illegal occupation and annexation of Crimea and Russia’s war in eastern Ukraine
Providing Ukraine with the means to defend itself in the face of Russia’s continued aggression and invasion of Eastern Ukraine
Supporting Ukraine’s reform process and providing it with financial assistance to rebuild its economy
Listing the Luhansk “People’s Republic” and the Donetsk “People’s Republic” as terrorist organizations
Continuing and increasing Canada’s commitment to provide military training to the armed forces of Ukraine
Imposition of sectoral sanctions against Russia’s energy, defence and financial services sector (including removing Russian banks from the SWIFT international payments system) to compel Russia to withdraw its troops, armies and weapons from Ukrainian soil
Support for infrastructure to support community centers, and programs around multiculturalism
Support for the establishment of an annual day of commemoration of Canada’s First National Internment Operations (1914-1920)
“We were pleased to be able to have a full, frank and productive exchange with Mr. Trudeau and are pleased to have had the opportunity to hear Mr. Trudeau address the issues and explain the Liberal Party position in person. Following this meeting, I am pleased that Mr. Trudeau and his candidates Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Chrystia Freeland, Arif Virani and James Maloney have committed to ensure that Ukraine is a top policy priority for the Liberal Party of Canada,” said Grod. “We are pleased that the Liberal party will press for increased sanctions against Russia including the SWIFT payments system for its illegal occupation of Crimea and ongoing terrorist war in eastern Ukraine.”
The meeting was attended by Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) National President, Paul Grod and UCC Vice President Renata Roman. In attendance with Mr. Trudeau were Liberal Party candidates Chrystia Freeland, Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Arif Virani, and James Maloney.
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