Mr. Speaker, I have just returned from Ukraine, the new front line in the worldwide struggle for democracy, where hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the belief that their democratic right to vote has been denied. They are proclaiming to the world that after winning their long struggle for self-determination, they will accept nothing less than their full, unimpeded right to choose their leaders.
The atmosphere is very tense as negotiations continue in trying to find a path out of the crisis. In Canada's eyes the legitimate path must be one through an electoral process free from intimidation and free from any suspicion of fraud. This will not happen without our help. Canada is needed to play a leadership role to ensure that Ukrainians have that choice.
Canada must bring its experience to resolving this critical situation. I implore the government to take urgent action to assist Ukraine in every way possible to conduct free and fair elections.