Mr. Chair, I thank the parliamentary secretary for his remarks and for opening this debate tonight.
Canada has always stood with the Ukrainian people through the long relationship between the Ukraine and Canada. I think of Mr. Mulroney being quick to recognize the Ukrainian independence in 1991 and Mr. Martin being quick to acknowledge the Orange Revolution toward democracy in 2004.
Sometimes over the course of those years our support has been rhetorical. Other times it has been specific and tangible. In the present circumstances, it is important to find the ways to move our position from rhetoric to concrete action.
Obviously, we need to make sure that any action that is taken does not impinge upon the Ukrainian people in a negative way. It is the behaviour of Mr. Yanukovych that is the problem here. In the past there has been some discussion about Canada or other countries leading an international dialogue toward a set of Yanukovych-specific sanctions, so that we are not imposing any burdens upon the Ukrainian people but are focusing our attention on Mr. Yanukovych himself. That could include the group of oligarchs who support him.
Is the government prepared to consider that type of measure, at least to have some discussion with our allies, the United States and European allies, specifically about what the world community can do to focus a set of sanctions, such as freezing assets and limiting travel, aimed specifically at Mr. Yanukovych and the oligarchs around him to make sure that they cannot conduct their campaigns against the Ukrainian people with impunity, and just get away with it and go on a holiday when they feel like it?