Heather McPherson, Edmonton Strathcona
“I want the House to pass this bill to make September Ukrainian Heritage Month. Ukrainian Canadians have helped build our country for over 125 years. This bill also shows our support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking former senator Stanley Kutcher and the MP for Etobicoke Centre for championing this bill. This bill would designate the month of September as Ukrainian heritage month. September was chosen to mark the first recorded arrival of Ukrainians to Canada during the month of September more than 125 years ago. Canada is now home to more than 1.3 million Ukrainian Canadians. Personally, I am honoured to be able to speak in this place to support this bill. I come from Edmonton, Alberta, where many Ukrainian Canadians live. I know first-hand the strong contributions they make in our community. New Democrats are proud to support a month that would recognize the significant contributions that Ukrainian Canadians have made and continue to make to Canada’s social, economic, political and cultural fabric, including artistic, linguistic, culinary, religious and folkloric contributions. The establishment of Ukrainian heritage month would not only be to celebrate Ukrainians in Canada. It would also be instrumental in educating future generations about the impactful role that Ukrainian Canadians have played and continue to play across this country. We need this bill now more than ever. It has been four and a half years of horror in Ukraine since the further illegal invasion by Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation. Putin’s brutal genocide has killed and injured thousands of Ukrainians, displacing hundreds of thousands more. As we speak, Ukrainians in Kyiv and other cities and communities across Ukraine continue to face bombing threats and abhorrent violence at the hands of Putin and his forces. Russian oligarchs continue to profit from this war, and Ukrainians stand bravely in defiance, defending their sovereignty and their lives. I think about a time in 2023 when I travelled to the towns of Irpin and Bucha. I remember going into the communities. I remember standing and looking at the buildings that had been bombed. One of the things I saw was a slide in a children’s playground, and it was riddled with bullet holes. This was a child’s slide. It was not a military target. Russia’s attacks were directed at civilians and civilian infrastructure. It was not just playgrounds. It was hospitals, schools, homes and apartment buildings. One year later, I watched as Ukrainians worked to rebuild their communities. That same indestructible spirit led Ukrainians to Canada following the Holodomor, over the decades since those unspeakable horrors were inflicted. Now, as families seek refuge from Putin’s genocidal attacks, they have come to Canada to build their lives, and in the process, they have helped to forge our nation. In Edmonton, Ukrainian Canadians and their descendants have helped shape our city and our culture. My friend, former MLA Deron Bilous, announced the province’s first official Ukrainian-Canadian Heritage Day. William Hawrelak served three separate terms as mayor, and the most beautiful park in the city, located in my riding of Edmonton Strathcona, is named for him. The first Holodomor monument in the world rests outside Edmonton city hall. Edmonton is home to the world-renowned Ukrainian Shumka dancers and to the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Alberta in my riding. In November, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council will present the 29th annual Hetman Awards, honouring the many Ukrainian Canadians in Alberta who contribute so much to our communities. As the foreign affairs critic for the new Democratic Party of Canada, I have fought hard to ensure that Canada’s response to the genocide happening in Ukraine is strong. I am proud to have sponsored four motions in the House that received unanimous consent. I want to be very clear: Unanimous consent from all parties is a message we can send as parliamentarians to Putin and the Russian Federation that when it comes to Ukraine, we stand united. I called on the government to help document Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity, to declare that the Russian Federation is committing acts of genocide, to designate Russia’s Wagner Group as a terrorist entity and to honour those who gave their lives in defence of our shared values. I am proud that New Democrats and all parties in the House stood together to support Ukraine when it mattered. Make no mistake. The threats from Russia expand far beyond Ukraine’s borders. We see now how Russia is spreading misinformation online and engaging in foreign interference. These are attacks on democracy itself. While this genocidal war rages on and attacks on civilians continue, and with the growing threat of nuclear engagement, New Democrats will continue to push the government to do what it can to end this war and to work for peace and justice. The people of Ukraine need and deserve our support, and we must recognize that democracy, not just in Ukraine but around the world, is under threat. It is under attack. Canadians and New Democrats stand with Ukraine. We will always stand with Ukraine. We celebrate the close ties Canada has with Ukraine and with Ukrainian Canadians, remembering and celebrating the rich history binding our nations. I look forward to passing this bill so that next September, we can celebrate Ukrainian heritage month together. Slava Ukraini.”
Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking former senator Stanley Kutcher and the MP for Etobicoke Centre for championing this bill. This bill would designate the month of September as Ukrainian heritage month. September was chosen to mark the first recorded arrival of Ukrainians to Canada during the month of September more than 125 years ago. Canada is now home to more than 1.3 million Ukrainian Canadians. Personally, I am honoured to be able to speak in this place to support this bill. I come from Edmonton, Alberta, where many Ukrainian Canadians live. I know first-hand the strong contributions they make in our community. New Democrats are proud to support a month that would recognize the significant contributions that Ukrainian Canadians have made and continue to make to Canada’s social, economic, political and cultural fabric, including artistic, linguistic, culinary, religious and folkloric contributions. The establishment of Ukrainian heritage month would not only be to celebrate Ukrainians in Canada. It would also be instrumental in educating future generations about the impactful role that Ukrainian Canadians have played and continue to play across this country. We need this bill now more than ever. It has been four and a half years of horror in Ukraine since the further illegal invasion by Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation. Putin’s brutal genocide has killed and injured thousands of Ukrainians, displacing hundreds of thousands more. As we speak, Ukrainians in Kyiv and other cities and communities across Ukraine continue to face bombing threats and abhorrent violence at the hands of Putin and his forces. Russian oligarchs continue to profit from this war, and Ukrainians stand bravely in defiance, defending their sovereignty and their lives. I think about a time in 2023 when I travelled to the towns of Irpin and Bucha. I remember going into the communities. I remember standing and looking at the buildings that had been bombed. One of the things I saw was a slide in a children’s playground, and it was riddled with bullet holes. This was a child’s slide. It was not a military target. Russia’s attacks were directed at civilians and civilian infrastructure. It was not just playgrounds. It was hospitals, schools, homes and apartment buildings. One year later, I watched as Ukrainians worked to rebuild their communities. That same indestructible spirit led Ukrainians to Canada following the Holodomor, over the decades since those unspeakable horrors were inflicted. Now, as families seek refuge from Putin’s genocidal attacks, they have come to Canada to build their lives, and in the process, they have helped to forge our nation. In Edmonton, Ukrainian Canadians and their descendants have helped shape our city and our culture. My friend, former MLA Deron Bilous, announced the province’s first official Ukrainian-Canadian Heritage Day. William Hawrelak served three separate terms as mayor, and the most beautiful park in the city, located in my riding of Edmonton Strathcona, is named for him. The first Holodomor monument in the world rests outside Edmonton city hall. Edmonton is home to the world-renowned Ukrainian Shumka dancers and to the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Alberta in my riding. In November, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council will present the 29th annual Hetman Awards, honouring the many Ukrainian Canadians in Alberta who contribute so much to our communities. As the foreign affairs critic for the new Democratic Party of Canada, I have fought hard to ensure that Canada’s response to the genocide happening in Ukraine is strong. I am proud to have sponsored four motions in the House that received unanimous consent. I want to be very clear: Unanimous consent from all parties is a message we can send as parliamentarians to Putin and the Russian Federation that when it comes to Ukraine, we stand united. I called on the government to help document Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity, to declare that the Russian Federation is committing acts of genocide, to designate Russia’s Wagner Group as a terrorist entity and to honour those who gave their lives in defence of our shared values. I am proud that New Democrats and all parties in the House stood together to support Ukraine when it mattered. Make no mistake. The threats from Russia expand far beyond Ukraine’s borders. We see now how Russia is spreading misinformation online and engaging in foreign interference. These are attacks on democracy itself. While this genocidal war rages on and attacks on civilians continue, and with the growing threat of nuclear engagement, New Democrats will continue to push the government to do what it can to end this war and to work for peace and justice. The people of Ukraine need and deserve our support, and we must recognize that democracy, not just in Ukraine but around the world, is under threat. It is under attack. Canadians and New Democrats stand with Ukraine. We will always stand with Ukraine. We celebrate the close ties Canada has with Ukraine and with Ukrainian Canadians, remembering and celebrating the rich history binding our nations. I look forward to passing this bill so that next September, we can celebrate Ukrainian heritage month together. Slava Ukraini.