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?