Foreign Affairs committee  First, it is of paramount importance that the Government of Canada formally acknowledges Ukraine's new government. Second, this delegation should meet with the ministers who will be in office. Right now, there is a new parliamentary speaker and an interim president. Canada should

Foreign Affairs committee  I am a member of the delegation.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think we have to be optimistic.

Foreign Affairs committee  Look, even today, I've seen two different lists of who will be in that unity government. I think it's a bit of a mug's game to try to predict who will actually be in the cabinet. I think the names that are being circulated are quite credible among those that have been circulated

Foreign Affairs committee  On everything except for corruption. If it were up to the politicians—no disrespect to anyone in the room—the people of Ukraine would have had Viktor Yanukovych as president for another 10 months. The people on the Maidan put their foot down and they said, “We won't have any more

Foreign Affairs committee  The legal challenges are many. There was a revision to the constitution. Ukraine has had essentially two constitutions during its time of independence and they have now reverted to what's called the 2004 constitution, which results in a much greater share of power between the pri

Foreign Affairs committee  I think that what we've seen since the weekend was a lack of the type of foment and unrest that was widely predicted before the fall of Yanukovych, with the exception of the Crimean peninsula. I think that people who were cowed to that point in time and did not criticize the gov

Foreign Affairs committee  There is a nationwide warrant for Mr. Yanukovych's arrest. He has tried to exit the country on two occasions and has been stopped by the customs and border authorities. As recently as today, a dossier has been prepared to be sent to the International Criminal Court concerning b

Foreign Affairs committee  As recently as the first day in operation of the new government and the removal of Mr. Yanukovych, the military, internal affairs, and the police have given their full support to the new governing authorities, as have the ministries of justice and foreign affairs.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think you are dealing with two issues. One is the threat of the sanctions to make bad actors in the previous government stop doing the wrong things: stop killing people on the streets and stop the violations of human rights. For that intention, they have served their purpose.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Chairman. The Ukrainian people have paid an extraordinary price for their freedom. They paid a price in human lives in favour of their own inalienable rights. It is the responsibility of the new authorities to ensure that they justify that confidence the people in Ma

Foreign Affairs committee  With respect to the 2010 local elections, which took place about a week after Prime Minister Harper's visit, we have evidence of several dozen incidents. The Ukraine local elections are massive undertakings. Every mayor, reeve, councillor, and dogcatcher--I think there were hundr

Foreign Affairs committee  Just to begin, Canada has a record of training, for example, members of the central electoral commission. In fact, Mr. Davidovich, the former head of the electoral commission, and the one who called fraud in 2004, actually participated in our programming on the need for that inde

Foreign Affairs committee  How am I doing for time?

Foreign Affairs committee  I'll slow down, then. We believe those priorities should be modified to include good governance, democratic development, judicial reform, and civil society support. Canada can help foster NGO sector development, especially groups working in the areas of human rights, education,