Відповідь Прем'єр-міністра Канади на звернення Форуму Українців ЧР

from Prime Minister/Premier ministre
to "Boris Chykulay (The Forum of the Ukrainians in the Czech Republic)"
date 10 June 2008 16:29
subject Office of the Prime Minister / Cabinet du Premier ministre


Dear Mr. Chykulay :

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding Private Member's Bill C-459, the Ukrainian Famine and Genocide ( Holodomor ) Memorial Day Act, introduced by Conservative Member of Parliament James Bezan. Please know that your comments are appreciated and have been carefully reviewed.

The Government of Canada was proud to support Bill C-459, which was passed unanimously by all Members of Parliament and received Royal Assent on May 29. We believe it is important that the world recognize the Ukrainian Famine and Genocide as one of the most tragic effects of Josef Stalin's murderous policy of collectivization, which robbed the Ukrainian people of their aspirations for a free and independent state and cost the lives of millions of innocent men, women and children.

Our support for Bill C-459 is consistent with the position Canada has taken for some time on recognizing the Holodomor. Most recently, Canada was pleased to co-sponsor Ukraine's motion at UNESCO last year honouring the memory of those who perished in the famine and acknowledging that Stalin's savage regime was directly responsible for their deaths.

We in Canada are bonded to this tragic period in human history by more than 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent, many of whom lost loved ones in the Holodomor. You can be assured that the Government of Canada will continue to honour the memory of these victims by ensuring that their suffering is never forgotten.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write.


The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada