Speeches – 2008

The Honourable Jason Kenney

Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Holodomor

Ottawa, Ontario, May 26, 2008

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very pleased to be with you today.

Let me begin by commending the Ukrainian Canadian Congress on organizing today' s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Holodomor. 

At a commemorative ceremony held last November for the victims of Holodomor, Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke about the tyranny of past communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe.  He said:

"Between the two world wars and the long cold war that followed, apologists tried to persuade us that the ideology of communism was benign.

They said we should be neutral towards it – "an honest broker."  They said we should learn to live with it – that we had nothing to fear from the Soviet Empire.  Canadians knew better.  So we took a stand.  We stood for freedom and fundamental human rights.  We stood against oppression in Ukraine.  We stood with its brave people, and those of the other captive nations of Central and Eastern Europe."

As some of you may know, my colleague, James Bezan has introduced Bill C-459 in the House of Commons, an Act to establish a Ukrainian Famine and Genocide Memorial Day and to recognize the Ukrainian Famine of 1932– 33 as an act of genocide. 

I am pleased to say that the Government of Canada will be supporting this private member' s bill and encouraging all other Members of the House to do likewise.

Our Government is committed to preserving and enhancing respect for and understanding of the value and dignity of all human beings.  We will continue to preserve and promote human rights here at home, and around the world. 

They are an important part of the fundamental values that Canadians embrace, along with democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.

In closing, allow me to thank the Ukrainian Canadian Congress for ensuring that Canadians are aware of Holodomor.  By remembering the victims of this horrible famine, we are compelled to ensure that such similar atrocities are never repeated.

Thank you.