UCC Welcomes new Members of Canada’s Federal Cabinet
UCC Calls for Unified Canadian Strategy to Deter Russian Aggression
January 11, 2017. OTTAWA. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) congratulates and expresses its sincere best wishes to Canada’s new Federal Ministers, who assumed their responsibilities yesterday:
– the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs;
– the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship;
– the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade;
– the Honourable Patricia A. Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour;
– the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions;
– the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women
Prime Minister Trudeau has assembled a very talented cabinet and caucus that we are confident will provide visionary international leadership and will undertake coordinated efforts to end the on-going Russian attacks on Ukraine and other parts of the world. The UCC calls on the Government of Canada in cooperation with the US and its other allies to develop and spearhead a coordinated strategy to deter Russia’s continued efforts to undermine European and global security.
The UCC calls upon Canada to enhance its support for Ukraine as it defends its people and undertakes irreversible reforms to modernize its economy and government institutions. This requires a coordinated and concerted effort by all relevant Ministries, namely Foreign Affairs, Defence, International Development, Public Safety, Immigration, International Trade, Health, and Justice, among others.
Canada’s unified strategy should include the following steps:
Department of Global Affairs (Ministers Freeland, Champagne and Bibeau)
- Continue to advocate for Ukraine in international arenas (NATO, OSCE, UN) and support Ukraine’s further integration with the EU and NATO;
- Ensure that Ukraine remains a Country of Focus for Canada’s International Assistance, continue to provide technical assistance to the Government of Ukraine at no less than current levels; to continue providing invaluable assistance to Ukraine’s reform efforts, democratic development, civil society and humanitarian assistance to those affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine;
- Increase sanctions on the Russian Federation for its continued aggression against Ukraine and human rights abuses, by adopting a “Magnitsky Amendment” to the Special Economic Measures Act and working with allies to ban Russia from the SWIFT payments system;
- Increase assistance to support economic development, most importantly small and medium enterprises, in order to maximize opportunities for both Canadian and Ukrainian businesses arising out of the historic Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement
Department of National Defence (Minister Sajjan)
- Extend and increase Operation UNIFIER, Canada’s commitment to train Ukrainian military and security personnel and reform Ukraine’s military through to at least 2020, at current or increased levels of participation by Canadian Armed Forces personnel. Operation UNIFIER is currently scheduled to conclude on March 31, 2017;
- Conclude negotiations on the Canada-Ukraine Defence Cooperation Agreement, which would deepen cooperation between Canada’s and Ukraine’s military and manufacturing sectors.
- Provide Ukraine with defensive equipment, most importantly ant-tank, anti-artillery systems and surveillance systems.
For more information please see the UCC’s Call to Action
Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (Minister Goodale)
- Continue to work with international partners to provide training to Ukraine’s police and security services;
Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (Minister Hussen)
- Establish a roadmap for the implementation of a liberalized visa regime for Ukrainian citizens travelling to Canada and increase opportunities for Ukrainian students to study in Canada.
The UCC expresses its strong appreciation to outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Stéphane Dion; the outgoing Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable John McCallum; and the outgoing Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, the Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, for their commitment to the Ukrainian Canadian community, support of Ukraine and contributions to Canada. The UCC wishes the outgoing Ministers all success in the future.
