Debates of March 20th, 2017

Operation UNIFIER

[Kerry Diotte, Conservative, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Mr. Chair, as far as we are aware, Ukraine wants it. All of the double-talk about it maybe not being good enough or maybe it is already getting some form of it is irrelevant. We should go to the source, straight to the horse's mouth, to get the information. Ukraine is very much in favour of getting this and it wants it. Who are we to argue? The Ukrainians are on the front lines. We should provide it. It is as simple as that.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Chair, one of the issues for Ukraine is making sure that the western world is united in the defence of its territory. There is a new president of the United States, who has certainly remarked that he would like to fundamentally change the relationship between the United States and Russia. What does the member think is the appropriate response for Canada to make to what seems to be a backing away by the United States from its support for Ukraine in order to improve its relationship with Russia?

[Kerry Diotte, Conservative, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Mr. Chair, Canada has proven that it is a big friend of Ukraine. What happens in the United States is irrelevant. We have to give everything we possibly can to Ukraine. We cannot leave it short. Ukrainians are in a battle for their lives and their liberty and we have to step up to the plate to show that we have been friends and will continue to be friends, and give Ukraine every tool it could possibly need to beat back the aggression it is experiencing right now.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage (Multiculturalism)]

Mr. Chair, I will be splitting my time with the member for Kitchener Centre.

I am proud to the rise in the House this evening to speak in support of Operation Unifier, which was announced last week by the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

I rise today on behalf of my constituents in Parkdale—High Park in support of this important mission. The constituents in my riding are engaged, informed, and compassionate people. I take pride in the fact that Parkdale—High Park is home to thousands of Ukrainian Canadians. My constituents understand that Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and military offensive in the Donbass in eastern Ukraine is unacceptable. We as a government understand this as well. That is why the Canadian government is taking action.

Through Operation Unifier, we are providing support to Ukrainian forces through capacity-building and military training. Sharing Canadian knowledge and expertise is crucial to fully supporting Ukraine in its efforts to maintain its sovereignty, its security, and its territorial integrity against unjustified aggression at the hands of invading Russian forces in Crimea and the Donbass. Every single day, the sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers of Ukrainian Canadians are either being wounded or killed. As Ukraine's closest friend and ally, we as Canadians must prepare the Ukrainian people to properly defend themselves and reduce these casualties. That is why Canada is committing to capacity-building and military training through Operation Unifier. Through this operation, we are sending a clear message to Ukrainians here and around the world that we as a government will stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with Ukraine, and will continue to work to promote Ukraine's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. That is a message that is not only for the Ukrainian diaspora in my riding of Parkdale—High Park or around the rest of Canada, it is also a clear message of deterrence to Russian, whose actions have destabilized the region and continue to pose a security threat to our allies in Europe. Make no mistake, Russian aggression presents an existential threat to Ukraine.

Operation Unifier complements other Canadian efforts already under way to combat Russian expansionism. This past July, in 2016, at the Warsaw Summit, NATO members, including Canada, agreed to deploy military forces to the Baltic states and Poland beginning in January of this year under Operation Reassurance. These efforts are meant to deter further Russian aggression like what we have seen in Crimea and the Donbass. Together with our allies, we have stood up and demonstrated leadership in the fight against Russian aggression. The U.K. has deployed in Estonia, Germany in Lithuania, and the United States in Poland, while our Canadian brave men and women in uniform are deploying in Latvia. The nature and magnitude of this concerted NATO response has sent a clear signal to Moscow that we are not simply using rhetoric to counter Russian aggression, we are coupling our words with concrete actions.

Our support of Ukraine is interwoven with the rich Ukrainian heritage in this country. In my role as the parliamentary secretary for multiculturalism, I am keenly aware of the rich contributions that Ukrainians have made to Canada's history and its development. The first members of the Ukrainian diaspora to settle in Ontario and western Canada came to this country 126 years ago. In that period, Ukrainian traditions have become Canadian traditions, such as wearing a vyshyvanka at the Bloor West Village Toronto Ukrainian Festival in my riding. I was also honoured to have the ability to congratulate the Ukrainian Canadian Congress on the launch of its Canada 150th program entitled youth engaging youth, which is funded by our government. This project will celebrate diversity and promote that shared heritage through youth engagement between, among others, Ukrainian Canadian youth and young people who are indigenous.

Our government has also tabled legislation in support of Canada-Ukraine free trade, an agreement that was signed by both nations in Kiev on July 11, 2016. I spoke in strong support of this agreement in this House because its benefits to our economies are clear. When that trade agreement comes into effect, it will eliminate the duties and tariffs on both sides of the economic ledger.

Canada has always been a close ally and friend to Ukraine. We were the first western nation to recognize Ukraine's independence on December 2, 1991. We will continue to stand with Ukraine as a strong global partner, especially at this critical time when Ukraine needs the support of its allies to combat Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and continued aggression in the Donbass. Canada's Operation Unifier will provide that much-needed support.

To Ukrainian Canadians, I say, “Duže diakuju”, for their contributions to our country. Slava Ukraini.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Chair, I have asked this question of a number of members and I am going to ask it again, because it is important and I do not think we have received a clear answer on it.

RADARSAT satellite images were provided under the previous government and withdrawn under the current government. These are images that Ukrainian authorities tell us they want. Various explanations have been developed, such as they may not be as useful as they once were. It is certainly true that Ukraine's military technology has improved significantly, and that is a great credit to the resilience of the Ukrainian state, but all of our information is that Ukraine still wants these satellite images.

We are sending brave Canadian men and women into the situation. Why would we not provide them, as well as Ukraine, with the greatest possible support and share satellite images that we have, that they want, and which they say would make a difference?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, it is important to underscore that there is a lot of commonality on both sides of the House particularly on this issue, which is indeed one that is not partisan in terms of our steadfast support as a nation for Ukraine.

With respect to the satellite imagery, yes, we have heard a lot about that this evening during the context of tonight's debate. What I will reiterate is that it is important, when Canada stands behind Ukraine, to stand behind it in a contemporaneous manner, in a manner that assists Ukraine with its present needs.

We have heard again and again that the utility of the satellite imagery that is referenced by my friend opposite, the satellite imagery that was once useful to Ukraine, has become reduced. It is not as timely or as critically required by Ukraine as was once the case. What we are working to do as a government is match the current needs of Ukraine with what Canada is able to provide.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Chair, I would like to ask my colleague a question about weapons to which Ukraine does not have access. Canada just sent some C7s, C9s, C6s, and Javelin missile launchers to Iraq.

Why does Ukraine not have access to the same weapons as Iraq?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the question from the member opposite.

I just want to emphasize that when we provide assistance to Ukraine, we do so in consultation with the government of that country. When we discuss the weapons situation, defensive weapons, when we discuss satellite imagery, it is always directly with the Ukrainian government. We did the same thing with the free trade agreement. Now we are doing the same with this mission, Operation Unifier.

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, it was referenced earlier that we should be helping Ukraine to achieve the goals that it has set. One of its most ambitious goals is to be NATO compliant by 2020.

Yes, we are continuing with Operation Unifier, and we are continuing with other projects that began when Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine began in 2014. When we were in the opposition, we supported the government. Today, we are glad that the opposition is supporting us as we continue this vitally important project.

However, there are new projects that we have commenced, and one of those is the Defense Reform Advisory Board. The former assistant deputy minister of defence, Jill Sinclair, is our representative there. This board will be directly engaging with the president, and the chief of staff of Ukraine's military, helping them to become NATO compliant. Should this new project not be one of our priorities?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank my colleague for his outstanding advocacy on behalf of Ukraine in this chamber, which is well known to many of us, and for his leadership on the Canada-Ukraine Friendship Group.

I think the appointment of Ms. Sinclair is an important one. It is important to have a Canadian representative at that entity. It is important to shore up not only Canada's NATO involvements, but also the incorporation of Ukraine as much as possible into the NATO fold. I think that is an important development.

I would underscore that Canada has worked on many fronts with respect to advancing the cause of Ukraine, whether it is the free trade agreement with Ukraine, whether it is support through Canada 150 funding, whether it is recent conversations I, in my capacity as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, have had with the minister of culture for Ukraine on the potential of developing a Canada-Ukraine film co-production agreement. The support of Canada is long-standing. It is steadfast. It is multi-faceted. The important development with Ms. Sinclair is an aspect of that as well.

[Raj Saini, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I am proud to rise today to speak in favour of our government's extension of Operation Unifier. In the face of ongoing Russian military aggression and illegal occupation, our government remains steadfast in Canada's commitment to the Ukrainian people. Our special relationship with Ukraine is bolstered by a shared vision, one in which the Ukrainian people have succeeded in their work to build a more secure, stable, and prosperous country, and one in which Ukraine is free from Russian aggression. We have been among the strongest international supporters of Ukraine's efforts to restore stability and to implement democratic and economic reforms. Canada was also one of the first countries to impose sanctions on the Russian government after its illegal invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014. The current government has continued to uphold this tough stance on Russia when it expanded sanctions against specific Russian officials. These officials include the so-called elected representatives to the Duma from Crimea, individuals who have absolutely no business being there. Furthermore, since January 2014, the Government of Canada has announced over $700 million in assistance to Ukraine.

This effort to support Ukraine through this important period of transition is a non-partisan commitment, and I would like to take a moment to thank the previous government for its work on this very important file. As we work to support Ukraine, military assistance will remain a key component of our country's commitment to Ukraine across development, security, democracy, and humanitarian aid.

For those who may not be familiar with Operation Unifier, I would like to take a moment to talk about what Canada's contribution to military aid in Ukraine looks like. Operation Unifier is a multinational joint support mission, which currently includes approximately 200 Canadian Armed Forces personnel. Canada's main focus is on tactical soldier training. As of December 2016, the Canadian Armed Forces has provided more than 3,200 training opportunities to UAF soldiers and officers on Operation Unifier. Many of the Canadians deployed are veterans of the war in Afghanistan and are now involved in training UAF personnel, including some coming directly from the front line in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbass. The impact of the training efforts of these Canadian soldiers has been commendable, and I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank these soldiers who are hard at work for Canada, helping to build a better, more stable, and more secure world.

There are those who would dismiss the notion that Canada is undertaking a training role, as if that role were unimportant. I would like to draw down into one specific training element that our forces will be assisting with. Canadian forces will be training Ukrainian forces on explosive ordinance disposal and improvised explosive device disposal training. This might seem like a small thing to some, but it is a critically important skill. Let me provide some context. According to the 2016 annual report from the Landmine Monitor, Ukrainian government forces claim that they are forced to deal with the deployment of land mines and other illegal devices in Ukraine. Someone other than the Ukrainian government is deploying land mines in Ukrainian territory. Let me quote from the report:

In November 2015, an officer from the General Staff informed soldiers that separatist NSAGs were using landmines attached to fish hooks and fishing lines to snag the clothing of soldiers as they moved through wooded areas, thereby detonating nearby mines.

Numerous reports from the past few years have indicated that land mines and other illegal devices have had devastating consequences upon the civilian population in Ukraine as well. In March 2015, it was reported that over the previous year at least 42 children had been killed and 109 more were injured by mines in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine alone. Given Canada's proud history of supporting the eradication of land mines, it is extremely fitting and important that we engage in these kinds of training activities.

I am proud of our government's commitment to engage on the world stage, from its commitment of $650 million to assist with a global initiative to make up for the funding cuts to newborn and maternal health that have come from the recent global gag order to our contributions to the fifth Replenishment Conference on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. That is why I am so proud we have chosen to extend our contribution to Operation Unifier for an additional two years.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for his collegiality on the various travels of our House standing committee on foreign affairs, especially most recently in eastern Europe, where we visited Ukraine, Latvia, Poland, and Kazakstan.

I would like to ask him a question based on one of the many meetings and briefings we experienced.

In several interactions with representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the OSCE, they were appealing, almost begging, for more funds to allow not only monitoring on both sides of the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, but to expand their operations along the Russian border to better monitor what Russia is sending into eastern Ukraine in the way of fuel, armaments, and men. Would he advise his Liberal government that perhaps it is time to step up and provide some additional funding to the OSCE to carry out these important monitoring operations?

[Raj Saini, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would also like to thank my hon. friend for his collegiality and his mentorship on the trip. He was a voice of great intelligence, as part of his previous career as a journalist and his knowledge of the area.

One of the things the OSCE representatives also mentioned during that trip was the difficulty they were having in that region. As I mentioned in my remarks, one of the reasons they were having difficulties was the amount of land mines there. Because of our participation in sending ordinance equipment to help with the situation in the region, especially in Donbass, Canada is stepping up in a very constructive way to provide security on the ground to ensure aid can be deployed in a reasonable manner.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Chair, we have been discussing Operation UNIFIER for more than three hours. The government has not yet brought anything new to the table. It merely repeats what was put in place from the beginning of the mission by the Conservative government. The $600 million or $700 million was allocated by the former government.

On February 23, my colleagues, the Conservative opposition critics for national defence and foreign affairs, issued a statement with eight very legitimate demands about strengthening Operation UNIFIER. We have been discussing them for three hours and presenting various elements. However, the members opposite have provided no response other than their government will continue with the same mission without an additional force.

Could my colleague tell me what he thinks of the Conservative opposition's demands? Is the call to again provide RADARSAT imagery useless? I heard one member say that Ukraine is saying that it is totally useless even though we know that that is not true. For example, does he agree that we should toughen our stance on the Minsk agreement because we know that there have been 3,099 violations? I want to know what he thinks of the opposition's demands.

[Raj Saini, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I wholeheartedly agree that we should strengthen Minsk. We had problems with the Minsk I agreement. When Minsk II emerged, especially with the trilateral contact group and with the influence of the Normandy Four, it was very durable. It is a process that I believe, and I think the Canadian government believes, will lead to a lasting peace.

The situation in Ukraine requires, initially, security and stability, which we are providing with Operation Unifier. It also requires political involvement. Our political involvement in supporting the peace process with the Minsk II agreements, with the packages of measures that have emerged, especially with the influence of the Normandy Four, are a necessary part of finding a solution in Ukraine.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Chair, I am grateful for the opportunity to rise and participate in tonight's take-note debate on Operation Unifier.

I want to start by saluting the work of the men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces, who have been participating for some time now, and by expressing my support for their continued involvement in Operation Unifier.

There has been great support within the Ukrainian community in Canada. I am fortunate to come from a part of the country where there is a large Ukrainian community that historically has made great contributions to Manitoba and to Winnipeg through the farming culture in rural Manitoba, as well as in Winnipeg's industrial economy and through the railway, particularly CN, which is strong in the community of Transcona, where I am from. This community continues to make great contributions. People continue to immigrate from Ukraine to Transcona. The contribution of Ukraine in my part of the world continues to be a real and important contribution.

There is the temptation sometimes to think that it is just because of that close historical connection that people within the Ukrainian community in Canada want to advocate for Ukraine, but it is important to note that it is not just that. It diminishes the great contribution and support that we see from that community to think that somehow it is just a sentimental one.

What is going on in Ukraine is not just something to be concerned about if one has a sentimental attachment to Ukraine. It is also about a principle. Russia, as a big superpower, thinks it can get away with simply walking into a neighbour's territory because no one is prepared to stop it. That is a principle that the Ukrainian Canadian community has been standing up to defend. It is not just a sentiment. The community's defence of that principle and its support for Ukraine are important. It is important that we ensure that we are doing everything we can to bring resources to bear in order to make that support real and effective within Ukraine for the sake of Ukraine and for the sake of all the neighbouring states along the Russian border that are also fearful that if what has already transpired in Ukraine is allowed to pass and perhaps worsen, they will be next on the Russian hit list of countries that are going to lose their independence to a large neighbour.

If there is going to be some meaningful resistance to Russia's actions within Ukraine and in the territories surrounding it, it is important that it not be just Ukraine against Russia, whether it is supported by Canada and other allies or not. It is important that it not just be Canada against Russia. What is really important is that it be a truly multilateral effort, because no one country standing up to Russia is going to get that message across. Russia needs to hear that the rest of the world is united in standing up to countries that would take advantage of their neighbours and fail to respect the territorial integrity of their neighbours and think that simply because they have the larger army, they can get away with doing whatever they want.

That is why it is so important that Canada participate fully in Operation Unifier. We are not the answer just on our own, but we are a necessary part of the only answer that can check Russian aggression in Ukraine and across the world.

That is why I am going to respectfully disagree with my colleague from Edmonton Griesbach. I do think that he is right that a change in position on the part of the United States does not mean that Canada should change its position. Maybe it is just a question of wording, but to say that the change in position on the part of the United States is not relevant is a mistake. It is relevant. It is important for Canada as the closest friend and ally of the United States to also be doing work there, to be doing our utmost on the diplomatic front with the United States to make sure that the new U.S. president's desire to have a closer relationship with Russia does not end up undermining this multilateral effort to help protect and support Ukraine.

It simply would be false to think that the United States does not have a significant possibility of undermining that effort if its position with respect to Ukraine changes substantially in order to court closer relationships with Russia. If that ends up happening, and I am not saying that is what will happen, but we as Canadians have to be prepared to extend our support to Ukraine even diplomatically within the United States if that is what it takes to make sure that the new administration does not let its desire to have a closer relationship with Russia get the better of it. That is an important component of the support we would offer there if it ends up being needed.

The other thing we could be doing and need to be doing alongside providing training to the Ukrainian armed forces is also to provide training within the civil administration of Ukraine to fight issues of corruption which we know are there and in some cases are undermining the efforts of the armed forces there and of the government. That is an important part. If we are going to provide resources, we need to make sure that the Ukrainian administration is able to receive those and deploy them properly. Providing the kind of training it takes to be able to root out corruption within an administration is an important part of guaranteeing the success of that operation and making sure that the resources we are sending are going to where they are needed so that Ukraine can ultimately be successful in standing up to Russia.

Another component of that is the Government of Canada has said that it will join the small arms treaty. It is important that it do that. I believe it was last June when the Liberals said they were going to do it. We are coming up on June again in not too long a time. Participating in international efforts to ensure that when small arms are moving from one country to another they end up where they are supposed to end up and not somewhere else is an important part of being able to supply resources with confidence.

Those are some of the things we would like to see the government move forward on. We think that is an essential part of making sure that the resources we are providing to Ukraine are used to their full capacity and do not end up somewhere else. When we talk about some of the difficult things we have to do sometimes to support friends in other countries, that means sometimes saying “no” to people here. We saw it with the Saudi arms deal where we know that people are producing and trading arms out of Canada. Saying “no” to them sometimes is a difficult thing to do because they make a lot of money, but if we are going to be an effective force for peace in the world, we need to make sure that we are not letting people who are producing arms in Canada sell them in ways that result in those arms not being where they should be and getting into the hands of the wrong people. That is important enough that it bears mention in this debate.

Those are some of my thoughts that I wanted to put on the record for the sake of this take-note debate. I am happy to take a few questions.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Chair, I want to thank my colleague, the member for Elmwood—Transcona, for his intervention tonight and for laying out some of the concerns he has. I appreciate his bringing up the prospect of working with our allies in the United States and with other NATO members in trying to find some resolution.

I would ask him if he would care to comment—I know that the Ukrainian community in his riding is quite concerned—on the aggression Russia continues to promote in Crimea, the war it wages in Donbass, the destabilizing effect it is having throughout eastern Europe, including in Georgia and the Baltic States, and the concern being expressed by Poland and Germany. We also can never forget about Romania and Moldova in this whole process.

Would the member care to comment on how we work with our American allies? Congress in the United States has adopted a bipartisan motion to send lethal weapons to Ukraine to defend the territory of Ukraine's sovereignty that is right now a hot zone, due to Russian aggression, Russian-backed rebels, and Russian troops on the ground, the little green men.

Should we be matching that? The Conservatives have been calling for supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine's military, because that is the front line against Russia's aggression and its expansionist aspirations to bring back the old Russian empire. Could the member comment on that?

I know that the Ukrainian community within his riding wants to see those lethal weapons and to work with people like Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and others who want to see Ukraine properly equipped to defend not just Ukraine but indeed all NATO nations.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Chair, I think it is good to see bipartisan support in the United States for Ukraine at the level of Congress and the Senate. I think it is troubling that within the White House, there is a new-found desire to look the other way, in some cases, when it comes to what Russia is doing in order to try to build a closer relationship. One worries that it may have a destabilizing effect on multilateral efforts so far, through the NATO umbrella, to support Ukraine.

We have seen already with the government how a change in attitude in the White House can change the position of the government. For instance, when the government was first elected, in its eyes, NAFTA was a good deal and there was not much that needed to be changed. A new president came in, and suddenly, through third parties and the media, it was floating the idea of conceding Canada's supply management system as a way to modify that deal. It came out of nowhere for Canadian producers who depend on the supply management system for their livelihoods. That was a bit of a shock.

When we see something like that happen, we have to ask, on other issues where the President is beginning to change U.S. policy, where the government might land.

We see something similar when it comes the very obvious change in the path to immigration for certain refugees who no longer feel safe in the United States. The government wants to maintain, presumably to please the President of the United States, that people crossing through farmer's fields during blizzards with their families is a perfectly status quo way for people to immigrate to Canada, when it is clearly not.

We have already seen that a change in the attitude and the position of the President, even without any direct request for the Canadian government to change its point of view, can lead to a change, not just in opinion but also in the policies, in some cases, of the government.

I think it is important that we keep our eyes open on this file when we hear the President making allusions to needing to improve his own relationship with Russia.

[Sheila Malcolmson, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Chair, I would like to invite my colleague from Elmwood—Transcona to expand on some of his comments about the role of civil society.

In 2012, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress testified to the foreign affairs committee of this Parliament, saying:

Canada can help foster NGO sector development, especially groups working in the areas of human rights, education, and law reform, as a vibrant civil society is one of the best guarantors of Ukraine's long-term democratic evolution.

Could my colleague talk a little more about the role of civil society in supporting a strong democracy?

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Chair, Canada does have a great expertise, whether it is in the non-profit sector or government sector, in showing how that kind of work can be done effectively.

It does seem to be the case that there is a need for improvement within Ukraine to ensure that government operates as it should, that it operates properly, and that resources being shepherded by government are managed appropriately. That is going to be part of maintaining any kind of lasting stability for Ukraine.

Does Canada have a role to play in training the Ukrainian Armed Forces? Absolutely. Do we have other forms of expertise that would be critical in terms of securing Ukraine's long-term stability and future? Yes, absolutely. I think it is important to try and take that dual-pronged approach.

I thank my colleague for raising once again the advocacy that has been undertaken by the Canadian-Ukrainian community here. I think the forceful position that various Canadian governments have taken over the last number of years in supporting Ukraine deserves a lot of credit. As I said, I think it is important to do justice to the work they have done in providing support to Ukraine, that it not simply be interpreted as a kind of sentimental attachment, but that Canadians see it for what it is, which is also a very rigorous and energetic defence of a principle which application extends far beyond the borders of Ukraine.

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Chair, I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Saint-Jean.

I welcome this opportunity to speak to the extension of Operation Unifier, an important component of our support for the Ukrainian people. I know this news was welcomed by the Ukrainian community across Canada, because a significant number of Canadians with close ties to Ukraine live in my riding of Etobicoke—Lakeshore, so I am especially pleased to speak to this issue today.

Before I address the mission itself, I would like to acknowledge the strong ties between our two countries, both historically and in today's context. Canada and Ukraine have enjoyed close relations. We were the first western country to recognize Ukraine's independence on December 2, 1991. The bilateral relationship is strengthened by warm people-to-people ties rooted in the 1.3 million-strong Ukrainian Canadian community.

Historic ties of friendship forged through generations of Ukrainian migration to Canada are reinforced by shared values and interests to produce a mature, balanced, and mutually beneficial partnership. The 1994 joint declaration on special partnership, renewed in 2001 and again in 2008, recognizes Canada's support for the development of Ukraine and the importance of our bilateral co-operation.

Our goal, with our assistance in Ukraine, is to improve economic opportunities for Ukrainians and a strengthened democracy. Canada is working with the Government of Ukraine and other development partners to rapidly implement the significant reforms needed for Ukraine to realize its full economic potential and build a sound public institutional and legal environment for closer integration with Europe. We have been there on electoral observation missions and we are there now to help it develop the key elements of a democratic infrastructure.

Canada has imposed sanctions against more than 270 Russian and Ukrainian individuals and entities. Since January 2014, Canada has sent more than $700 million in much-needed assistance to Ukraine, including $400 million in low-interest loans to help Ukraine stabilize its economy and over $240 million in bilateral development assistance, focusing on democracy measures and sustainable economic growth.

I am proud that this government signed the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement. The Ukrainian government ratified it last week and we are awaiting passage in the Senate for this to move forward. These are all great steps in strengthening our ties. I could go on, but I am here to talk about the mission.

Since the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine in November 2013, Canada has been at the forefront of the international community's support to the Ukrainian people, as we have heard this evening. The extension of Operation Unifier will continue to involve approximately 200 Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed in Ukraine until the end of March 2019. Since the start of training in September 2015, more than 3,200 Ukrainian armed forces members have been trained by the Canadian Armed Forces.

The Canadian Forces' primary focus is on tactical soldier training, also known as small team training, which consists of individual weapons training, marksmanship, tactical movement, explosive threat recognition, communication, survival in combat, and ethics training. The training began in the summer of 2015 and is taking place primarily at the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in Starychi and other locations in western Ukraine. Canada has also contributed military equipment to Ukraine's armed forces.

Furthermore, the CAF is partnered with Ukraine in the military training and co-operation program, an ongoing engagement that will continue to offer a series of opportunities to enhance peace support operations, interoperability, military capacity building, and professional development. The training mission occurs under the rubric of the Multinational Joint Commission, which includes Ukraine, the United States, Canada, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom. Canada joined the joint commission in January 2015, and co-chairs, with Ukraine, the subcommittee on military policing.

I understand we are very close to signing a defence co-operation agreement with Ukraine and I am optimistic this, too, will strengthen our ties.

Before I end, I would like to pay homage to the approximately 200 Canadian soldiers headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, who will be headed to Ukraine as part of Operation Unifier. Soldiers who are currently deployed will be returning to Canada over the coming weeks. On behalf of all Canadians, I thank them.

I am a vocal advocate of mental health and I am pleased to see that the forces have the CAF road to mental readiness program. I do not think we as Canadians can fathom some of the horrors witnessed by our men and women in uniform and the impact these have on their mental health.

This is a mission, a non-partisan issue that goes beyond politics. It is about doing what is right. This is about standing in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and showing them that Canada is there for them. I am proud that our government is doing this.

[Kerry Diotte, Conservative, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Mr. Chair, we have heard a lot of praise for all that Canada has done for Ukraine, from all sides of the House, but I am troubled by the fact that sometimes it is a little empty. I wonder, and I would love to find out from my colleague across the way, why the majority of Liberals failed to support my bill, Bill C-306, that condemned the deportation of the Crimean Tatars as genocide. I have yet to hear a good explanation for that. I would love to hear it.

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Chair, one of the many things I have learned since I have come to this House is that we stand here often being criticized for doing things that the people who are criticizing us did before. They are criticizing us for not doing things that they did not do.

We should be standing united in this mission. With the extension of Operation Unifier, we are doing exactly what the previous government did before us. They should be applauding this step, not taking the opportunity to be critical of our actions.

[Jean Rioux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Chair, Canada has always considered Ukraine to be a friend and our trust in and support for that country are unwavering.

I would like to know why the hon. member speaks with such enthusiasm and passion about Ukraine reaching its full potential.

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member for Saint-Jean for such an important question.

For me, this is about who we are. I was born in Thunder Bay. I am sitting beside the hon. member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River. I later moved to Etobicoke—Lakeshore. Ukrainian Canadians have been my friends, my neighbours, my schoolmates. They are fellow Canadians. It is part of who we are.

Canada has always been very proud of the way that it supports our fellow Canadians, but we have always stood very proud in how we support other countries. It is for this reason that I am very proud we are taking these steps with Operation Unifier and that we are standing shoulder to shoulder, not only with Ukraine, but with Ukrainian Canadians.