Toronto – The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), the League of Ukrainian Canadians and the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women wish to extend their support and gratitude to Brant MPP Dave Levac for introducing the Holodomor Memorial Day Act into the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on April 17th, 2008. “This important piece of legislation will finally recognize and pay tribute to the victims of the Ukrainian Genocide. Between 1932 and 1933, close to ten million people were starved to death by the regime of Joseph Stalin. We are so grateful to Dave Levac for supporting us in raising awareness of this immense human tragedy,” said National UCC President Paul Grod. Should this legislation be passed, then Ontario will join the over forty international jurisdictions which recognize and remember the victims of the Holodomor. “We have lost the adults who lived through this calamity, and we are now beginning to lose the children. Before this generation is gone, I truly want to see these victims acknowledged. This legislation would do that, and go a long way in healing the wounds still felt by the community, 75 years after the famine,” said Oleh Romanyshyn, President of the League of Ukrainian Canadians. Moving forward, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the League of Ukrainian Canadians and the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women encourage all parties to support this much needed bill. “Recognizing genocide should never be a political issue, and we call on MPPs of all political stripes to support this initiative to commemorate the fallen,” said Orest Steciw, Holodomor Projects Coordinator for the League of Ukrainian Canadians and League of Ukrainian Canadian Women. ______________ Bill 61 2008 http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=1988 An Act to proclaim Holodomor Memorial Day Preamble The Government of Ukraine, the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, the Senate of Canada, UNESCO, the United Nations and over 40 other jurisdictions around the world have officially condemned the Holodomor or recognized it as genocide. Ukraine has established the fourth Saturday in November in each year as the annual day to commemorate the victims of the Holodomor. It is appropriate to extend the annual commemoration of the victims of the Holodomor to Ontario. A memorial day provides an opportunity to reflect on and to educate the public about the enduring lessons of the Holodomor and other crimes against humanity. Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows: Holodomor Memorial Day 1. The fourth Saturday in November in each year is proclaimed Holodomor Memorial Day to commemorate the genocide by famine that occurred in Ukraine from 1932 to 1933. Commencement 2. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent. Short title 3. The short title of this Act is the Holodomor Memorial Day Act, 2008. ______________ EXPLANATORY NOTE |
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