Resolutions of the 19th Congress of Ukrainian Canadians

Nextthe image of Parliament of Canada building at the eveningResolutions of the XX Congress of Ukrainian Canadians07 October 2001
October 12, 1998in Community News 0 Likes
the image of Parliament of Canada building at the evening
Resolutions of the 19th Congress of Ukrainian Canadians — 9th-12th October 1998, Winnipeg, Manitoba
General Resolutions
  1. Be it resolved that the head office of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (“UCC”) for the 1998-2001 term be located in the city of Winnipeg.
  2. Be it resolved that the office of the UCC regularly inform Branches and supporters about the activities of the Board of Directors and send them the resolutions of the 19th Congress.
  3. Be it resolved that the UCC Board of Directors involve Branches or individuals in realizing certain assignments and projects of the UCC.
  4. Whereas the Justice Committee on Deportation and Denaturalization continues to handle current issues on behalf of the UCC,
    Be it resolved that this committee become a standing committee of the UCC.
  5. Be it resolved that the UCC Board of Directors include the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association into the organizational structure of the UCC in the immediate future.
  6. Be it resolved that the UCC Board of Directors study the effectiveness of Provincial Councils and make recommendations concerning their relevance.
  7. Be it resolved that the UCC Board of Directors establish a committee to research the current state and needs of the Ukrainian Canadian community, focusing on the needs of youth and professionals.
  8. Be it resolved that the UCC Board of Directors enhance UCC fund raising campaigns in order to improve the social, cultural and economic well-being of Ukrainian Canadians.
  9. Be it resolved that the UCC improve the level of Ukrainian representation at all government levels in order to remedy the declining profile of Ukrainian Canadians.
  10. Be it resolved that, in the nearest future, the UCC clarify to federal officials UCC’s position regarding the internment of Ukrainians in Canada during World War One.
    Unveiling of commemorative plaque at Stanley Barracks, Toronto, 2 October 1998
  11. Be it resolved that the UCC make representation to relevant federal institutions to include the Ukrainian genocide and genocides of all other ethnocultural minorities in Canada into the Canadian Genocide Museum.
  12. Be it resolved that the UCC make representation to the Government of Canada to designate one day a year to commemorate genocides of all ethnocultural communities of Canada.
  13. Be it resolved that the UCC Board of Directors support the efforts of the Ukrainian World Congress to have the United Nations condemn, by a special resolution, state organized genocidal famines.
Canada Ukraine Relations
Whereas there exists a need for ongoing contact with the federal government and parliamentarians to provide information, to promote continued good relations between Canada and Ukraine and to build on the special relationship model which has defined the past seven years of Canada’s relations with UkraineBe it resolved that the UCC:

  1. Reopen in the nearest future a fully operational UCC Ottawa Bureau.
    Ukraine’s president, Leonid Kuchma, in Toronto
  2. Develop an effective research and policy development capacity for the monitoring and assessment of Canadian Government policy and programs vis-à-vis Ukraine and for the preparation of timely and well-researched position papers on various Canadian foreign policy issues affecting Ukraine and ensure the circulation of such papers to all political parties, the media, member organizations of the UCC, as well as to the general Canadian public.
  3. Strengthen UCC’s efforts in advancing Canada-Ukraine relations, including for example, the advocating of a formal status for the UCC in all Canadian delegations to Ukraine; promoting the establishment of exchange programs: youth, cultural, educational, entrepreneurial; supporting Canadian policies related to the security of Ukraine, such as: its relations with NATO and the G-7, and others.
  4. Position itself as an information clearing house, gathering and making available information regarding government assistance programs, organizations requiring assistance in Ukraine, and projects of assistance to Ukraine undertaken by Canadian organizations.
  5. Ensure an effective communications capacity for the dissemination of information to the community, media, and the development of a UCC web page, by engaging a communications officer.
  6. Encourage local Ukraine-focused Canadian community-based projects: student exchanges, grass roots projects, person-to-person and twinning projects, training in small business and business ethics. Consider instituting one Canada-wide project annually for participation by the entire community.
Canadian Issues
  1. Be it resolved that the UCC support the principle of Canada remaining a united country with its present geographical boundaries.
  2. Be it resolved that the UCC support the Calgary Accord.
  3. Be it resolved that the UCC recognize Quebec’s distinctive status within Canada.
  4. Be it resolved that the UCC support the concept of Canada as a multicultural country within a bilingual framework.
  5. Be it resolved that the UCC strongly support the establishment of a Multicultural Commissioner Office within the Government of Canada to ensure compliance and accountability for the Multiculturalism Act.
  6. To strengthen the community image and enhance our collective sophistication,Be it resolved that the UCC coordinate all its dealings with the federal government regardless of the issue through one UCC Government Relations Committee to provide a unified and focused voice, while Provincial Councils and Branches will deal with their respective levels of government in a like focused manner.
  7. Canadians of Ukrainian descent are proud to be Canadians and are, in the main, pleased with the rights and benefits accorded to them in Canada. However, enhancing citizenship is an ongoing issue requiring constant vigilance and action. To that end,Be it resolved that the UCC examine the various laws, policies and programs of the federal government which affect Canadians of Ukrainian descent less favorably to ensure Ukrainian Canadian citizens justice, equality and appropriate representation (appointments to boards, consultative mechanisms) in all aspects of Canada’s life seeking a best practices model from the British and French experience in Canada. Attention will be paid to, among others:
    1. working to eliminate potential discrimination under Canadian Human Rights legislation to ensure, as much as possible, a Ukrainian presence in all the federal structures;
    2. ensuring full recognition of the multicultural nature of Canada and seeking a presence in the development/execution of government policies and programs;
    3. working with both governments, Canada and Ukraine, to develop a viable migration model between both countries.
Immigration
  1. Be it resolved that the UCC compile a comprehensive data base on citizenship and immigration related issues including government publications, immigration criteria, community expertise, and provide a clearing house for such information to the community across Canada.
  2. Be it resolved that the UCC pursue and encourage initiatives that will increase opportunities for Ukrainians to immigrate to Canada.
  3. Be it resolved that the UCC demand a review of administrative procedures at the Canadian Visa Office in Ukraine to ensure equitable and timely visas for citizens of Ukraine.
  4. Be it resolved that the UCC review the Federal-Provincial Territorial Immigration Agreements currently signed by British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as the long-standing Quebec agreement, with a view to assess their progress towards their objectives and encourage other provinces to sign similar agreements.
  5. Be it resolved that the UCC inform elected officials, especially new incumbents, about current issues of concern regarding Ukrainian immigration. UCC should enhance its representations with briefings and dialogue between officials and community agencies involved in immigration.
  6. Be it resolved that the UCC monitor the equitable funding of immigrant settlement programs across Canada and promote programs important for successful integration, such as English/French as a second language, employment counselling, etc.
  7. Be it resolved that the UCC support the successful integration of immigrants into Canadian society by promoting activities such as seminars, networking, mentorship and meaningful employment, in partnership with UCC member organizations, professional and business organizations and community groups in Canada.
  8. Be it resolved that the UCC aggressively fulfil its responsibility as the conduit of timely information among member organizations and the Ukrainian Canadian community across Canada regarding funding programs for immigration and settlement projects.
Denaturalization and Deportation
Due to persistent, false and defamatory allegations linking the Ukrainian community in Canada with complicity in Nazi war crimes:

  1. Be it resolved that the denaturalization and deportation issue is a priority of the UCC.
  2. Be it resolved that the 19th Congress of Ukrainian Canadians protest the abuses of the Canadian judicial process that have arisen in denaturalization and deportation cases against Canadian citizens based on the imported concept of guilt by inference.
  3. Be it resolved that the 19th Congress of Ukrainian Canadians direct the UCC Board of Directors to give a mandate to the Committee for Justice of the UCC Toronto Branch to organize and coordinate various actions in the Branches and throughout the Ukrainian community in Canada regarding the denaturalization and deportation issue.
  4. Whereas Canada, as a leading nation in the world, has an international obligation to institute criminal proceedings against all Canadian citizens that committed war crimes;Whereas Canada, with its long-standing tradition of judicial fairness, has a domestic obligation towards its own citizens to ensure that Canadians suspected of war crimes, living in Canada, are tried before Canadian courts of criminal jurisdiction in accordance with Canadian rules of evidence in criminal proceedings;Whereas Canada should not avoid its international and domestic obligations by instituting denaturalization and deportation proceedings with the expectation that another country will deal with Canadians suspected of having commited war crimes during World War Two;Whereas justice delayed is justice denied;Whereas the Honourable Jules Deschênes recommended in his 1986 report to the Canadian government a “made-in-Canada” solution where criminal proceedings would be instituted in Canada against alleged war criminals residing in Canada;

    Whereas denaturalization and deportation proceedings are clearly inappropriate since:

    • the Canadian government has destroyed a significant portion of its records pertaining to the admission into Canada of post World War Two immigrants;
    • the government is using citizenship revocation proceedings in an effort to conduct war crime trials without the safeguards enshrined by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Canadian standards of justice in criminal matters;
    • these proceedings are lengthy and very costly for Canadian taxpayers, yet they do not attain the desired goal, namely to punish Canadians for war atrocities and, by the same token, to condemn such atrocities so that similar ones are not repeated anywhere in the future;

    Whereas the Toronto Star, September 25, 1998 edition reported comments of the Honourable A. Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice, to the effect that she was “disappointed” with a final decision in the Vitols case, thereby seriously undermining denaturalization and deportation proceedings under Canada’s Citizenship Act;

    Whereas the UCC created an Educational Research Fund on Deportation and Denaturalization in order to properly research the events that transpired during World War Two and immediately thereafter, and, most particularly, Canada’s admission policies and criteria at that time, and to familiarize the Canadian government, media and Canadians in general with the findings of such research;

    Therefore, Be it resolved that the 19th Congress of Ukrainian Canadians call upon all Canadians to support UCC’s Educational Research Fund on Deportation and Denaturalization in order to ensure that Canadians suspected of World War Two crimes be tried in Canadian courts of criminal jurisdiction in conformity with Canadian criminal law and, if found guilty, punished in Canada, as was set out by the Honourable Jules Deschênes in his 1986 report and recommendations to the Canadian government.

Strengthening the UCC Team
  1. Be it resolved that the UCC focus on maintaining a leadership role in Canada, including the advocacy of issues at all levels, providing its member organizations with directives, strengthening the membership to maintain our Ukrainian identity and assist Ukraine when possible.
  2. Be it resolved that the UCC introduce a Director of Communications position to provide timely and current information through appropriate channels, develop position papers on issues of concern and develop a bank of experts to access when issues arise.
  3. Be it resolved that the UCC encourage Provincial Councils to organize annual conferences in each province to increase communication between Triennial Congresses.
  4. Be it resolved that the UCC establish a web site on the internet with links to other organizations to facilitate communication.
  5. Be it resolved that the UCC introduce a Director of Youth position to focus on developing youth contacts and act as a resource for youth projects and initiatives.
  6. Be it resolved that in view of the increasingly rapidly changing environment, the UCC continue reviewing its internal roles and structures to ensure a cohesiveness of activity.
Ukrainian Education
  1. Be it resolved, that the UCC establish an Education Committee comprised of the following:6 representatives from “ridni shkoly”
    4 representatives from various provincial public schools, e.g. bilingual, full-day, core, etc.
    4 representatives from kindergartens
    3 representatives from universities
    3 representatives from parents’ committees, umbrella organizations
    2 representatives from school councils
    2 representatives from institutions such as CIUS, Oseredok, UVAN, etc.
    1 representative from community colleges
    2 representatives from summer language programs, evening programs, etc., in total 27 persons.The above-mentioned individuals should proportionally represent all regions of Canada, by a minimum of:2 representatives from Ontario
    2 representatives from Manitoba
    2 representatives from Saskatchewan
    2 representatives from Alberta
    1 representative from Quebec
    1 representative from British Columbia
    1 representative from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
    1 representative from northern Canada
  2. Be it resolved that the UCC Board of Directors leave intact the previously drafted mandate of the UCC Education Committee with the addition of one word:
    • Study, review and develop priorities, strategies and recommendations for the enhancement of Ukrainian education in Canada.
    • Review, develop, monitor and evaluate plans and strategies for better coordination of information on issues of Ukrainian education.
  3. Be it resolved that the UCC Board of Directors approve a budget for the UCC Education Committee in the amount of $56,000 for the following activities:
    • 2-6 meetings or teleconferences of the Education Committee — $30,000
    • Completion of the needs assessment — $2,000
    • Preparation and publication of the school manual — $2,000
    • Co-ordination of the project promoting the usage of the Ukrainian language — $2,000
    • Engagement of the appropriate individuals to implement activities 1 to 4 — $20,000.It is recommended that the following funding sources be reviewed:
      • Shevchenko Foundation
      • Federal, provincial governments
      • Ukrainian Canadian Credit Unions
      • Commercial firms: Coca-Cola, McDonalds, etc..
Three main directives concerning the activities of the UCC Education Committee for the next three years.
I. Priorities for the next 12 months:
  1. Organize an Education Conference for Ukrainian Schools (administrators, teachers, parents, students) at which the UCC Education Committee will present its final report on the needs of Ukrainian schools (printed in two languages).Invite people responsible for education in Canada (non-Ukrainians) and inform them about the needs of Ukrainian schools (securing interpreters).The Conference program should include a review of Ukrainian language programs for adults to further promote Ukrainian language communication between parents and children.
  2. Create a web site on education, which would include:
    • assistance for teachers in locating materials, a list of resource publications, dictionaries, computer programs, etc.
    • catalogue of available books (libraries)
    • Ukrainian-English dictionary, English-Ukrainian dictionary, list of people, who can translate from English to Ukrainian or vice versa.
  3. Review the financial needs for Ukrainian education in cooperation with the Shevchenko Foundation and set aside a portion of funds for allocation to Ukrainian schools in Canada.
II. Priorities for the next three years — 1998-2001
  1. Institute a “Ukrainian story hour” in public and Ukrainian libraries. Key — parent committees.
  2. Enable the establishment of Ukrainian play groups for young mothers/fathers with young children where they have the opportunity to play (socialize) in the Ukrainian language.
  3. Support and ensure the development of a financial campaign (media blitz), promoting the Ukrainian language, history and culture, community activities, as well as registration for Ukrainian dance courses, adult Ukrainian courses, university courses, etc., through Ukrainian institutions, credit unions, churches, newspapers and television programs.
III. 9-Year Plan
  1. Implement a standard program/curriculum of Ukrainian from kindergarten to grade 12.
  2. Utilize the internet as a learning tool, including at least a Ukrainian/English dictionary on the internet.
  3. Recommend that Ukrainian language and culture programs based on every day life situations be aired on local channels.
  4. Make budgetary allocations for the organizing of regular teacher conferences.
  5. Encourage and help organize individual or group visits, excursions, exchanges or partnerships for students and teachers to Ukraine in order to affirm Ukrainian identity.
Involvement of youth organizations, churches, museums and other academic institutions in the UCC Education Committee
  1. In view that youth organizations, churches, cultural and academic institutions play a major educational role in our community and taking into account that the level of knowledge of the Ukrainian language is varied, the above-mentioned institutions are requested to prepare material, information, announcements, etc. in two languages.
  2. All the above-mentioned organizations and institutions should keep in mind all age groups (especially children and youth) in the planning of any projects (events, concerts, exhibits, etc.).
  3. All organizations, institutions and schools are requested to acquaint each other with their area of specialization (exchange of expertise, knowledge, information).
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