Canada-ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group Holds First Executive Committee Meeting

February 26, 2008

Ottawa, ON - The new Executive Committee of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group held its first meeting since its annual general meeting last December. This was an important opportunity for the Executive Committee to layout an agenda for the upcoming year which happens to be the 75th anniversary of Holodomor. Ukrainians around the world will be observing a year long commemoration of the 75th year since the tragedy of the Holodomor genocide occurred.

“I am greatly encouraged by the bipartisan efforts of all members of the Executive Committee,” said Chair Joy Smith. “The Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group is committed to working to strengthen the economic, cultural and social ties that exist between Canada and Ukraine. Our Executive Committee looks forward to working with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Ukrainian Embassy to organize events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Holodomor.”

One of the highlights of the meeting was a discussion of Canada’s role in supporting Ukraine’s application to NATO’s Membership Action Plan. With over 1,100,000 Canadians of Ukrainian descent, Canada has a longstanding friendship with Ukraine, and strongly supported Ukraine when it declared its independence from the former USSR and during its recent Orange Revolution.

The purpose of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group is to provide a structure for the exchange of visits, information and ideas between Canadian parliamentarians and prominent representatives from Ukraine.

The new executive members are as follows:

Chair
Joy Smith, M.P.

Vice-Chairs
Hon. Raynell Andreychuk, Senator
Peter Goldring, M.P.
Boris Wrzesnewskyj, M.P.
Peggy Nash, M.P.

Directors
Hon. Consiglio Di Nino, Senator
Garry Breitkreuz M.P.
Mike Wallace M.P.
James Bezan M.P.
Inky Mark M.P.
Mark Warawa M.P.
Maurice Vellacott M.P.
David Christopherson M.P.