Leon Benoit

[Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act, October 20th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, the member's main argument was given at the end of her presentation when she said that because of the 400 jobs, some of which could be lost in Winnipeg, she could not support the legislation. I would like her to think about why she would place such a high importance on the jobs of people working at the Wheat Board and ignore the people who will clearly benefit from this change, who are the farmers. There are tens of thousands of farmers across the west who would benefit.

For example, I have farm land in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Seven farmers are renting land from me. Every single one of them is excited about what is happening with the Wheat Board as we remove the monopoly. Every single one of them has been waiting for years to have this happen. They often ask me when we are going to get it done. We are going to get it done now.

Why does the member place such a high importance on the jobs with the Wheat Board? I, too, am sorry that those jobs will be lost, but why does she place little importance on the farmers who are the people who produce this commodity and really should benefit from it and market it in the way they see fit?

[Agriculture, October 19th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the government introduced the historic marketing freedom for grain farmers act. This legislation will allow farmers in my riding to market their wheat and barley to any buyer of their choice, just like farmers in eastern Canada. This is legislation that farmers want and expect to see passed by Parliament and it will modernize research in the grain sector in western Canada.

Would the Minister of Agriculture please tell the House what positive change the bill would bring to research and development in western Canada?

[Democracy in Ukraine, October 18th, 2011]

Mr. Chair, it has been a tough time for Ukraine and the people of Ukraine since the fall of the wall and the division of the former Soviet Union. I think it has been more difficult for Ukraine than it has been for some of its neighbouring countries, such as Poland, the Czech Republic, or the Baltic states. Certainly Ukraine has had a more difficult time. Progress has been slower.

There was a lot of hope with the Orange Revolution and what has happened since, but now we see a reversal in the situation. To me it is one thing to have slow progress, but it is another thing to have a reversal. It must be extremely disheartening for the people in Ukraine to see this happening. It certainly is for people of Ukrainian descent. I am sure it is for relatives and friends, and it is in my constituency, where there is a large population of people from Ukrainian backgrounds.

This reversal truly is a pivotal time in the history of Ukraine. We do not know where things are going to go from there. Would the member agree that the reversal is certainly quite a different situation from slow progress?

[Democracy in Ukraine, October 18th, 2011]

Mr. Chair, in his presentation the member acknowledged that it is a very serious situation when a former prime minister and many others are faced with bogus charges and dealt with in what really is not much of a justice system, at least in the procedure that was taken, and imprisoned. He also said that the right thing for Canada to do is not to isolate Ukraine.

If the current regime in Ukraine will not reverse the actions it has taken, what practical next step would the member see Canada taking to deal with the situation so that Ukraine is not isolated?

[Democracy in Ukraine, October 18th, 2011]

Mr. Chair, in the House of Commons, when we want to silence the opposition we do it through connecting better with the Canadian public. We do it through better debate in the House of Commons. We do it through having positions that are favoured by more people than the opposition. That is the way we do it here in a democratic country.

That is why, when we see what is happening in Ukraine and we see a former prime minister go through a completely bogus set of charges, trial and end up in jail, we know it is an extremely serious situation that is being faced. In fact, this situation is pivotal to the long-term future of Ukraine. It cannot just be forgotten. If this action that has been taken is not reversed, I do not see, when it comes to the European Union, the United States and Canada, where we can just back off and pretend it did not happen. We believe in democracy. We just cannot do that or we fail the people of Ukraine and we fail our democratic principles.

How important does the member think this situation is? What kind of implications could there be, and probably will be, if these bogus charges, these arrests, of not only the former prime minister, are not dealt with in a way that is more befitting a democracy? What could the possible long-term implications be for Ukraine?

[Democracy in Ukraine, October 18th, 2011]

Mr. Chair, I would like to commend the hon. member opposite for her very effective presentation tonight. People of Ukrainian ancestry and Ukrainian heritage in my constituency, even when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, had close contacts. Many visited family that were unfortunately stuck in the Soviet Union and had been unable to immigrate to Canada. Many immigrated to Canada in the late part of the 1800s.

We saw a progression. At first it was just trying to help their families survive in Soviet Ukraine, then there came a time later. I remember in the early 1980s, Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union, but at that time some Ukrainian farmers came over to learn about farm business management. I was a farm economist at the time so I did a little work with them. They were trying to learn how to manage a farm. It was hopeless because they did not understand the free enterprise system at all.

Then we saw democracy come. From there, a very slow development I would argue, but hope. Canadians of Ukrainian heritage were visiting more. They saw new hope and things were moving ahead. Now we have this.

On August 6, Yulia Tymoshenko was arrested. By the way, she is a former prime minister, a very prominent political figure and currently a member of the opposition. When she was arrested, this is the statement from the Minister of Foreign Affairs:

Canada is concerned by the apparently politically motivated persecution, and now arrest, of Yulia Tymoshenko. The appearance of political bias in judicial proceedings undermines the rule of law. Canada urges the Ukrainian government to strengthen judiciary independence and continues to support efforts to build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous society in Ukraine.

Then on October 11, the Minister of Foreign Affairs made this statement, “In my recent letter to President Viktor Yanukovych, I urged the Ukrainian government to strengthen judicial independence and capacity”. He went on to say, “Today's developments may have serious consequences for our bilateral relationship”.

The member has already mentioned the trade deal. Specifically, what other actions would she take from here if she were in a position to actually determine what the Government of Canada would do in relation to this situation in Ukraine?

[Democracy in Ukraine, October 18th, 2011]

Mr. Chair, having immigrated from Poland, my colleague comes from a country that has an extremely close relationship with Ukraine because at times there has in fact been no separation.

A few days ago the Prime Minister received the top award that could be presented to someone who is not a citizen of Ukraine. At that very time our Minister of Foreign Affairs used some strong language on what this action against Yulia Tymoshenko could mean to the relationship between Canada and Ukraine. He said:

Today’s developments may have serious consequences for our bilateral relationship.

In diplomatic terms, that is very strong language.

Members across are asking what Canada will do. It has already done a lot. It is a process and we have to continue taking steps. We all hope that this take note debate will be an important event in that process.

I ask the member to comment on the importance of the Prime Minister receiving that top award at the same time these other unfortunate events are happening. It seems contradictory. The member would understand what is happening in Ukraine better than most people. I would ask him to comment on that.

[Democracy in Ukraine, October 18th, 2011]

Mr. Chair, when President Yanukovych was first elected there was concern that he might move Ukraine more toward Russia and away from the west. However, that has not happened and, to me, that just magnifies the importance of Canada helping to put pressure on against the imprisonment of Yulia Tymoshenko and the whole process that led up to that. It is pretty clear to an outsider that this process, arrest and trial were not proper.

I had concerns when the new president was elected but my concerns did not come to pass. However, we now see this. I would like the member to comment on how he sees this situation and on the importance of once again pressuring Ukraine to back off and respect democracy, respect the judicial process beginning with this arrest and this situation.

[Democracy in Ukraine, October 18th, 2011]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the member's intervention but I would like to ask her a direct question. We are having this take note debate on this issue. All parties thought it was important. Does the member think this could have a real impact on what is done in Ukraine?

Certainly, Canada has a very strong relationship with Ukraine. That relationship is important to the people of Ukraine. It certainly is important to the people of Ukrainian background in my constituency. I am sure some Canadians are wondering what difference it is going to make. Does the member think this debate could make a difference in the way that Mrs. Tymoshenko is handled and how this proceeds in Ukraine?

[Democracy in Ukraine, October 18th, 2011]

Mr. Chair, I have an interest in this issue from different points of view, starting with a large Ukrainian population in my constituency. On the farm many of my neighbours and friends were of Ukrainian descent. As well, I am involved with the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association. In that association we often talk about Ukraine. Canada has been a great supporter of having Georgia and Ukraine come into NATO. I know some members of Parliament from Ukraine very well. When I ask how things are in Ukraine, they refer to the arrest and are very concerned by it.

In the long run it is apparent to me that what is holding Ukraine back more than anything else is corruption. It just cannot get through the issue of corruption like some other former Soviet bloc countries have. It is not nearly as successful, and that certainly is holding Ukrainians back.

On the general issue of corruption in Ukraine and how that is holding that society back, how does the member consider that to differ from the issue of the arrest of Mrs. Tymoshenko and the impact this could have on Canada-Ukraine relationships, and also on future development and advancement in Ukraine?

We all are sincerely hoping for the best for Ukraine. It is a country with so many resources and great people. It should be moving ahead faster than it is.

What does the member foresee as a possible impact of this arrest?