Canadian member of parliament slams government’s inadequate contingent of election observers to Ukraine
Dec 31, 2009 at 14:37“Unfortunately, Ukraine’s democracy is fragile and needs our support. Russian interference and threats coupled with economic challenges in Ukraine have strained democratic institutions in this country from which 1.2 million Canadians draw their origin. Under previous Canadian governments, Canada and Ukraine have established a ‘special relationship’ and Ukrainian Canadians have played a pivotal role in Ukraine’s path to independence and democracy. It is for these reasons that the Conservative government’s inadequate announcement of a contingent of 60 election observers is so disappointing. Compared to the 500-strong contingent of official election observers sent by the previous Liberal government, the Conservative government’s efforts can best be described as embarrassing,” said Wrzesnewskyj.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation have requested that Canada send an election observer mission to Ukraine closer in number to that which the Liberal government sent in 2004.
“For months along with my Liberal colleagues, including Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, Official Opposition Critic for Foreign Affairs Bob Rae, Official Opposition House Leader Ralph Goodale, and Critic for Infrastructure, Communities and Cities Gerard Kennedy, we have been demanding that the Conservative government send a strong contingent of official election observers to Ukraine,” stated Wrzesnewskyj.
“I first began raising the need for a strong Canadian election observer mission back in early September 2009 when I participated in the parliamentary delegation to Ukraine that was led by the Speaker of the House of Commons. In late November fourteen Liberal Members of Parliament, including Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Bob Rae, formally met with Mr. Yaroslav Davydovych, the former Chair of Ukraine’s Central Electoral Commission and hero of the Orange Revolution. Mr. Davydovych traveled to Ottawa to press the Canadian government to help ensure fair elections in Ukraine. Unfortunately, at that time Conservative Ministers refused to meet with Mr. Davydovych to hear his concerns, and the Conservative Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group (CUPFG) would not even call a meeting of the association to welcome Mr. Davydovych and to give parliamentarians of all parties a chance to hear his expert advice,” stated Wrzesnewskyj.
Liberal Members of Parliament repeatedly raised the issue during Question Period in the House of Commons and in press releases to the media. It was raised in Question Period on December 1, 2009 by Borys Wrzesnewskyj (see below), on December 4, 2009 by Ralph Goodale (see below) and on December 8, 2009 by Gerard Kennedy (see below).
On December 8, 2009 Wrzesnewskyj attended a meeting of the Conservative chaired Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group (CUPFG) where Canadian election observers to Ukraine were not even on the agenda. Wrzesnewskyj introduced a motion to send 200 official Canadian election observers for the Ukrainian presidential election.
“As I explained on the Ukrainian Canadian television program Svitohliad, my motion in the CUPFG meeting was supported by Liberal MP Bonnie Crombie, however all of the Conservative members of the CUPFG either voted against the motion or abstained from voting; Edmonton East MP Peter Goldring voted against, Kildonan-St. Paul MP Joy Smith abstained and Senator Raynell Andreychuk abstained. Despite this non-support of the Conservatives, my motion passed and on December 9, 2009 Conservative MP and Chair of the CUPFG Mark Warawa was obliged to send a letter to Conservative International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda stating that during its December 8, 2009 meeting a motion was passed by the CUPFG to ‘ask the Government to substantially increasing [sic] the number of Canadian Observers our Government is sending to Ukraine for the upcoming Presidential Elections,’” said Wrzesnewskyj (letter attached).
On December 10, 2009 Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff wrote an open letter to Stephen Harper reminding him that “Canadians remember with pride the role that the almost 500-strong delegation of Canadian election observers, led by former Prime Minister John Turner, played in the 2004 Ukrainian elections” and went on to urge him “to commit Canada to sending a delegation of election observers comparable to the 2004 election” to “ensure that Ukraine continues on its journey towards a stable democracy” (see full letter below; also available at: http://www.liberal.ca/en/newsroom/media-releases/17096_an-open-letter-from-liberal-leader-michael-ignatieff-to-stephen-harper-regarding-the-upcoming-ukrainian-election).
“It’s disappointing that the Conservative government has abandoned Canada’s once proud ‘special relationship’ with Ukraine,” concluded Wrzesnewskyj.
Question Period
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Election in Ukraine
Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Etobicoke Centre, Liberal): Mr. Speaker, Canadians remember with pride the role that our 1,000 observers and mission leader former Prime Minister John Turner played during the 2004 election in Ukraine. In January 2010, the first presidential election since the Orange Revolution will take place. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is asking for Canada to send 500 observers this time. The minister only announced 60. The Congress is disappointed. NGOs in Ukraine are worried. In 2004, we stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine. Why not in 2010?
Deepak Obhrai (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Conservative Party): Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the member that even this time Canada will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. We are extremely happy with the elections that are taking place there. We will keep monitoring and we assure that it will be a transparent and fair election.
Wrzesnewskyj: Mr. Speaker, that is a symbolic gesture, not a real commitment. Sixty is one-tenth of 2004’s. Mr. Davydovych, the former deputy chair of Ukraine’s electoral commission who refused to sign off on the previous fraudulent results, recently came to Ottawa. Our House gave this democratic hero a standing ovation. He is terribly worried. He flew here from Kyiv to raise the alarm. In 2004, Canada showed international leadership. Canadians were heroes in the streets of Ukraine. However, last week, the minister refused to meet Davydovych. Why? Why will she not listen to his expert advice?
Obhrai: Mr. Speaker, let me tell the honorary member that a lot of members on this side of the House were in Ukraine during the Orange Revolution. I remember that the member for Edmonton East was out there. There are a lot of members on this side who are very much interested in Ukrainian democracy and we will continue to support Ukrainian democracy. I can assure the member from this side of the House that we will stand with Ukraine as well.
Question Period
Friday, December 4, 2009
Election in Ukraine
Ralph Goodale (Wascana, Liberal): Mr. Speaker, more Canadian observers are needed to help monitor the presidential election in Ukraine in January. The leading expert on this issue, Mr. [Yaroslav] Davidovich, says Canada should match what we did so well in 2004. In that election, beyond the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Canada sent 500 additional observers. Now they are needed again. Ukrainian democracy is being tested. Legitimacy is crucial. Why has the government slashed Canada's support by nearly 90 percent?
Obhrai: Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is supporting free and fair elections in Ukraine by deploying Canadian election observers through the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Because of our strong commitment to Ukraine, Canada will be sending the maximum number of observers requested by the OSCE. The OSCE has a respected track record and has observed elections in Ukraine since 1998. Supporting the OSCE mission improves voter coordination and ensures effectiveness.
Goodale: Mr. Speaker, the time is short here. The election is next month. The stakes are high. Ukraine is the only country in that region making substantial progress toward a durable democracy. Canada has the ability to help. Our 500 observers are needed. The cost is modest. A distinguished Ukrainian Canadian, for example, the respected deputy premier of Saskatchewan, the Hon. Ken Krawetz, could lead that team. Canada would again be heralded on the streets of Kiev. For heaven's sake, why not?
Obhrai: Mr. Speaker, Canada supports the free and fair elections in Ukraine, but we must understand that we must coordinate this with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Whatever it has requested is what Canada is supplying. People should understand that we must coordinate this with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and that is what we are doing.
Question Period
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Election in Ukraine
Gerard Kennedy (Parkdale—High Park, Liberal): Mr. Speaker, under a previous government, Canada has had a special relationship with Ukraine, including assistance with free and fair elections. For the presidential election in January, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress has asked for 300 observers, as in the past, but the Conservative government only wants to send 60. I have seen first-hand trained Canadian volunteers play a crucial role in the Ukrainian elections. Last week, Mr. Davidovich, the former head of the electoral commission, told MPs how important a strong international force is for a fair result or democracy will be threatened. Will the government now change its mind and properly support the right number of Canadian observers for the next Ukrainian elections?
Lawrence Cannon (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Conservative Party): Mr. Speaker, the question is not the number of people who should be there. The importance is the contribution that Canadians make toward that effort. We do so through different organizations. We do work in co-operation with the European Union as we are going forward with this file. I know that those members do not appreciate the work that Canadians are doing there. That is why they are doing all the yelling and screaming, but we are getting it done and in the right way of doing it.