Statements on Holodomor in the House of Commons

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November 24, 2011in Holodomor 0 Likes
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41st PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
EDITED HANSARD * NUMBER 051
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Ukraine
Mr. Peter Goldring (Edmonton East, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, for most of the past 80 years the silence has been near complete, stifled behind a Soviet curtain of iron, ne’er to be spoken aloud, the enormity of the deliberate annihilation, unknown to the world, while Europe’s bread was made from the bountiful crops stolen by Stalin from Ukraine.

Eight million perished, murdered by forced starvation in the Holodomor, the genocide of Ukraine. Then freedom was ushered in with celebrations of independence, the Soviet yoke of servitude and dictated silence lifted. The world must be told of the Holodomor, of Ukraine’s genocide of such unimaginable horror in a land of such great plenty.
Civilization’s failure must be put on permanent public display so that all can see the dark side of humanity and hopefully learn not to repeat.

We remember today, and for all time, the Holodomor, the genocide in Ukraine.

Ukraine
Mr. James Bezan (Selkirk-Interlake, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, between 1932 and 1933, millions of Ukrainians perished in the former Soviet Union at the hand of Joseph Stalin’s man-made famine in Ukraine. This crime against humanity is known as the Holodomor and this week we observe the 70th anniversary of this tragic event.

In an effort to destroy Ukrainian nationalism, Stalin created a famine in Ukraine which starved tens of thousands of Ukrainians to death each and every day. For far too long, the Holodomor was covered up and to this day many continue to deny its existence. By educating one another on the genocide that occurred, we can stop the mistruths that deny Holodomor victims the respect they deserve and help prevent future genocides.

In 2008, this Parliament supported my private member’s bill which recognized the Holodomor as genocide and designated the fourth Saturday of every November as Holodomor Memorial Day. I commend this House for taking a moral and honourable stance in recognizing that atrocity as a genocide.

By implementing this famine, Stalin’s goal was to crush Ukrainian nationalism. As a member of Canada’s Ukrainian community, I can proudly say he failed.

Ukraine
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, this week, we remember Ukrainian men, women and children who lost their lives during the Holodomor. Between 1932 and 1933, under the directive of Joseph Stalin, millions of innocent people died as a result of poor living conditions and starvation. Once known as the breadbasket of Europe, Ukraine was forced to give up its grains to the Soviet regime, under an imposed system of collectivization that devastated the country.

Today, the Ukrainian community plays an integral role in Canada’s vibrant culture and has no doubt been an important part in the development of our nation.
This week has been officially declared by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress as the National Holodomor Awareness Week.

In Winnipeg, the Canadian Museum of Human Rights is set to open its doors in 2012. I, with many others, look forward to seeing a permanent display of the Holodomor. It is my sincerest hope that through means such as the Human Rights Museum, people will be better informed of these past tragedies because it is so important that we never forget the genocide that occurred.
UCC Media Contact:
Darla Penner
Telephone: (204) 942-4627
Email: dpenner@ucc.ca
Website: www.ucc.ca

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