PRESS RELEASE

 JUNE 18, 2008

 

PARLIAMENTARY ARCHITECTS OF CANADA’S

UKRAINIAN GENOCIDE LAW TO BE HONOURED IN TORONTO

On Thursday, June 19, 2008, Senator Raynell Andreychuk and Manitoba MP James Bezan— the parliamentary architects of Canada’s Ukrainian Genocide Law, will be honoured in Toronto.

The event will be hosted by Canadian Friends of Ukraine, who helped draft the Canadian legislation, and the League of Ukrainian Canadians, organizers of the international exhibit Holodomor: Genocide by Famine, which will be on display at the event.

Bill C-459, a Private Member’s Bill initiated by Manitoba Conservative MP James Bezan recognizing the Soviet state-imposed Ukrainian Famine as an act of genocide became law a few weeks ago. The bill establishes a Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day and recognizes the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 imposed by communist dictator Joseph Stalin, as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people.

On the day of the historic bilateral summit in Ottawa between Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko, the Harper Cabinet announced that it would recognize the Holodomor as an act of genocide. The Government’s historic decision makes Canada one of the first Western nations to recognize the 1932-33 Ukrainian Famine-Terror as a deliberate act of genocide which annihilated over 7 million people.

With the support of all political parties, Conservative MP James Bezan’s historic bill was fast-tracked through all stages and passed by parliamentarians. Two days later, Senator Raynell Andreychuk sponsored the quick passage of Mr. Bezan’s bill in the Senate.

Event date:  Thursday, June 19, 2008

Time:             7:30 pm (Reception)

8:00 pm (Dinner and introductions) 8:35 pm (Program)

Location:      Golden Lion Restaurant
                        15 Canmotor Ave. (east of Islington, south of the Queensway)

Contact:        Lisa Shymko (tel. 416-894-5518)