Speech (House debate)

{
    "time": "2022-10-03 16:15:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)",
        "fr": "M. Kevin Lamoureux (secr\u00e9taire parlementaire du leader du gouvernement \u00e0 la Chambre des communes, Lib.)"
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"7312788\" data-originallang=\"en\">Mr. Speaker, it is really important to recognize that what is taking place in Ukraine today goes far beyond the borders of Ukraine. The people of Ukraine are putting up a heroic effort in defending some of the fundamental principles of freedom, democracy and so many other things we in western society and many countries around the world truly value, and which are so important to the future not only of Ukraine but in fact the world.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312789\" data-originallang=\"en\">In Canada, we have approximately 1.4 million people of Ukrainian heritage. People of Ukrainian heritage have played a critical role in who we are as a nation today, but the impact in Canada goes far beyond just the people of Ukrainian heritage. The people of Canada have recognized in a very real and tangible way that what is taking place in Europe is so critically important to all of us, each and every one of us. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312790\" data-originallang=\"en\">My political career in the House has been somewhat limited, but I can recall 2014, when from my perspective we saw Ukraine take a significant pivot. It wanted to talk about trade and was looking to the European Union and countries like Canada and the U.S. to enhance those trade relations. The violent reaction that I saw being perpetrated from Russia ultimately led to a change in Ukraine's presidency back in 2015, when former president Poroshenko was elected. He came to Canada and spoke in the House of Commons, in Centre Block, in person, and talked about the special relationship between Canada and Ukraine.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312791\" data-originallang=\"en\">At that time, I was on the opposition benches. Even back then, we talked about the important relationship between Canada and Ukraine. The <a data-HoCid=\"279306\" href=\"/politicians/rob-oliphant/\" title=\"Rob Oliphant\">parliamentary secretary</a> just made reference to Canada's acknowledging Ukraine as an independent nation. We were the first country in the world to do so. We understand very much the heritage, and we have an appreciation for Ukraine's sovereignty and independence.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312792\" data-originallang=\"en\">I can recall vividly being at the Maidan, or Independence Square, in Kyiv days afterward, where I witnessed a beautiful wedding ceremony and the sense of young people going into downtown Kyiv, recognizing how important it was that a change had taken place.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312793\" data-originallang=\"en\">When Crimea was annexed by Russia, the red flags shot up. We argued then, as we are arguing for eastern Ukraine today, that those are territories that we as a nation identify as part of Ukraine. That has not changed. As referenced, the referendums are a sham. I do not think anyone who has a true appreciation of what has taken place recognizes those referendums as being valid. There is a sense of solidarity for Ukraine that goes far beyond the borders of Ukraine and I believe is well recognized here in Canada. It is a friendship that predates the Maidan. It goes back into the nineties and even before.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312794\" data-originallang=\"en\">I think of constituents like the late Bill Balan, a dear friend of mine who passed. There are so many that, even though they might live here in Canada, their hearts can often be found in Ukraine. It is a part of the reason why we have organizations such as the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and many others that do such a wonderful job ensuring that elected parliamentarians here in Ottawa have a complete and comprehensive understanding of the situation that is taking place in Ukraine. That is why, over the years, we have seen substantial support for Ukraine's infrastructure.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312795\" data-originallang=\"en\">One of the things that comes to my mind, right offhand, is the Canadian Forces and how we have been able to utilize members of our Canadian Forces in Ukraine.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312796\" data-originallang=\"en\">Ukraine has some incredible members of its Ukrainian military who have been trained, at least in part, by members of the Canadian Forces. I think it was estimated to be just over 30,000 or something of that nature. We are seeing some of the training that we were able to provide years ago actually being used today.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312797\" data-originallang=\"en\">There are things that Canada has been doing. We could talk about the trade agreement, which was started under Stephen Harper and finalized under the current Prime Minister. I remember the minister responsible for trade and the <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">Prime Minister</a> flying over to sign off. I remember it was something that former president Poroshenko, when he spoke to us in the House of Commons, live, talked about wanting to see. Those are some of the things that we did prior. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312798\" data-originallang=\"en\">We had a real hero, President Zelenskyy, appear on our virtual screens and, therefore, on the floor of the House of Commons. Again, he talked about the important role the allied countries and Canada can play to continue to support Ukraine.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312799\" data-originallang=\"en\">When, just over 200 days ago, Russia illegally invaded Ukraine, there was an immediate response. There were many people that thought Ukraine was just going to roll over and Russia would be able to finish that invasion. However, the heroes of Ukraine, they stood up. I remember the one quote that was attributed to President Zelenskyy. It was in regard to being offered a way to leave, that maybe he should be leaving the country. He said something to the nature of, \u201cI need ammunition, not a ride.\u201d</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312800\" data-originallang=\"en\">It is those sorts of words that have inspired so many Ukrainian heroes. It is truly amazing how the people of Ukraine have responded. It is important, as the Parliament here in Canada, that we tell our brothers and sisters in Ukraine that we have been there for them, and we will continue to be there for them in very real and tangible ways.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312801\" data-originallang=\"en\">We can talk about the sanctions, the military lethal weapon aid and support that we have provided or the humanitarian aid, whether it is coming from the government or from the people of Canada. I am always amazed at how many Ukrainian flags we will see flying, whether it is in my constituency of Winnipeg North or when I am driving into the Interlake. Throughout our country, we will see Ukrainian flags.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312802\" data-originallang=\"en\">I believe, as I said before, it is because there is a solidarity here in Canada to support Ukraine that is worldwide. We will continue to be there and recognize the referendums as a sham.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"7312788\" data-originallang=\"en\">Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, il est vraiment important de reconna\u00eetre que ce qui se passe en Ukraine actuellement d\u00e9passe largement les fronti\u00e8res de ce pays. Les Ukrainiens d\u00e9ploient des efforts h\u00e9ro\u00efques pour d\u00e9fendre certains principes fondamentaux, comme la libert\u00e9, la d\u00e9mocratie et j'en passe, que la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 occidentale et de nombreux pays du monde ch\u00e9rissent \u00e9norm\u00e9ment et qui sont extr\u00eamement importants non seulement pour l'avenir de l'Ukraine, mais aussi celui du monde entier.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312789\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le Canada compte environ 1,4 million de personnes d'origine ukrainienne. Les Canadiens d'origine ukrainienne ont grandement contribu\u00e9 \u00e0 nous d\u00e9finir comme pays. Toutefois, cette guerre a une incidence au Canada qui va au-del\u00e0 des Ukrainiens. Les Canadiens ont reconnu de fa\u00e7on tr\u00e8s concr\u00e8te que ce qui se passe en Europe rev\u00eat une importance cruciale pour tout le monde.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312790\" data-originallang=\"en\">Ma carri\u00e8re politique \u00e0 la Chambre est quelque peu limit\u00e9e, mais je me souviens bien que, en 2014, l'Ukraine a franchi un tournant, du moins de mon point de vue. Elle voulait parler de relations commerciales et elle s'est tourn\u00e9e vers l'Union europ\u00e9enne et des pays comme le Canada et les \u00c9tats\u2011Unis pour am\u00e9liorer ces relations commerciales. La r\u00e9action violente dont nous avons \u00e9t\u00e9 t\u00e9moins de la part de la Russie a men\u00e9 \u00e0 un changement de la pr\u00e9sidence en Ukraine en 2015, lorsque l'ancien pr\u00e9sident Porochenko a \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9lu. Il est venu au Canada et il s'est adress\u00e9 \u00e0 la Chambre des communes, en personne dans l'\u00e9difice du Centre. Il a alors parl\u00e9 de la relation sp\u00e9ciale entre le Canada et l'Ukraine.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312791\" data-originallang=\"en\">\u00c0 ce moment-l\u00e0, j'\u00e9tais dans l'opposition. M\u00eame \u00e0 l'\u00e9poque, nous parlions de la relation importante entre le Canada et l'Ukraine. Le <a data-HoCid=\"279306\" href=\"/politicians/rob-oliphant/\" title=\"Rob Oliphant\">secr\u00e9taire parlementaire</a> vient de mentionner le fait que le Canada a reconnu l'Ukraine comme un pays ind\u00e9pendant. Nous avons \u00e9t\u00e9 le premier pays du monde \u00e0 le faire. Nous comprenons tr\u00e8s bien les origines de l'Ukraine et nous respectons sa souverainet\u00e9 et son ind\u00e9pendance.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312792\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je me rappelle tr\u00e8s bien ma visite du Ma\u00efdan, la place de l'Ind\u00e9pendance, \u00e0 Kiev, quelques jours plus tard. J'ai alors vu un magnifique mariage et des jeunes aller au centre-ville de Kiev, ce qui m'a permis de comprendre toute l'importance du changement qui avait eu lieu.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312793\" data-originallang=\"en\">Lorsque la Russie a annex\u00e9 la Crim\u00e9e, les signaux d'alarme se sont multipli\u00e9s. \u00c0 l'\u00e9poque, nous avons soutenu, comme nous le faisons aujourd'hui pour l'Ukraine orientale, qu'il s'agissait de territoires que notre pays reconnaissait comme appartenant \u00e0 l'Ukraine. Cela n'a pas chang\u00e9. Comme on l'a dit, les r\u00e9f\u00e9rendums qui ont \u00e9t\u00e9 organis\u00e9s sont une imposture. Je ne crois pas que quiconque ayant une v\u00e9ritable compr\u00e9hension de la situation reconnaisse la validit\u00e9 de ces r\u00e9f\u00e9rendums. Le sentiment de solidarit\u00e9 envers l'Ukraine va bien au-del\u00e0 de ses fronti\u00e8res et je crois qu'il est bien pr\u00e9sent, ici, au Canada. Il s'agit d'une solidarit\u00e9 qui remonte \u00e0 bien avant le Ma\u00efdan. Elle remonte aux ann\u00e9es 90 et m\u00eame avant.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312794\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je pense \u00e0 des concitoyens comme le regrett\u00e9 Bill Balan, un ami cher qui nous a quitt\u00e9s. Nombreux sont ceux qui, m\u00eame s'ils vivent ici au Canada, ont le c\u0153ur en Ukraine. C'est notamment pour cette raison que nous avons des organisations comme le Congr\u00e8s ukrainien canadien et bien d'autres qui font un travail formidable pour s'assurer que les \u00e9lus, \u00e0 Ottawa, comprennent \u00e0 fond la situation en Ukraine. C'est pourquoi, au fil des ans, les infrastructures de l'Ukraine ont b\u00e9n\u00e9fici\u00e9 d'un soutien consid\u00e9rable.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312795\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je pense tout de suite aux Forces canadiennes et au travail que leurs membres ont \u00e9t\u00e9 en mesure d'accomplir en Ukraine.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312796\" data-originallang=\"en\">Il y a un certain nombre de militaires ukrainiens incroyables qui ont \u00e9t\u00e9 form\u00e9s, du moins en partie, par des membres des Forces canadiennes. Je pense qu'ils sont un peu plus de 30 000 ou quelque chose comme \u00e7a. Nous constatons que la formation que nous avons dispens\u00e9e il y a des ann\u00e9es est aujourd'hui mise en application.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312797\" data-originallang=\"en\">Il y a certaines choses que le Canada fait d\u00e9j\u00e0. Nous pourrions parler de l'accord commercial, lanc\u00e9 par Stephen Harper et achev\u00e9 par l'actuel premier ministre. Je me souviens que la ministre responsable du commerce international et le <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">premier ministre</a> s'\u00e9taient rendus l\u00e0-bas pour signer l'accord. Je me souviens que, dans une allocution qu'il avait faite ici \u00e0 la Chambre des communes, le pr\u00e9sident Poroshenko avait dit vouloir qu'un tel accord soit conclu. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312798\" data-originallang=\"en\">Nous avons vu le pr\u00e9sident Zelensky, un v\u00e9ritable h\u00e9ros, prendre la parole \u00e0 distance sur les \u00e9crans de la Chambre des communes. Il nous a parl\u00e9 du r\u00f4le important que les pays alli\u00e9s, dont le Canada, peuvent jouer pour continuer de soutenir l'Ukraine. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312799\" data-originallang=\"en\">Il y a un peu plus de 200 jours, lorsque la Russie a envahi ill\u00e9galement l'Ukraine, la r\u00e9ponse a \u00e9t\u00e9 imm\u00e9diate. Beaucoup de gens croyaient que l'Ukraine se rendrait rapidement et que la Russie arriverait \u00e0 compl\u00e9ter son invasion. Or, les h\u00e9ros de l'Ukraine se sont tenus debout devant l'envahisseur. Je me souviens d'une citation qu'on a attribu\u00e9e au pr\u00e9sident Zelensky. C'\u00e9tait lorsqu'on lui offrait une fa\u00e7on de s'enfuir, lorsqu'on lui disait qu'il devrait peut-\u00eatre quitter le pays. Il avait r\u00e9pondu quelque chose comme: \u00ab Pas besoin d'\u00e9vacuation, donnez-moi des munitions. \u00bb </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312800\" data-originallang=\"en\">Voil\u00e0 le genre de propos qui ont inspir\u00e9 tant de h\u00e9ros ukrainiens. Il est vraiment \u00e9tonnant de voir comment le peuple ukrainien a r\u00e9agi. Il est important, en tant que Parlement ici au Canada, de dire \u00e0 nos fr\u00e8res et s\u0153urs en Ukraine que nous avons \u00e9t\u00e9 l\u00e0 pour eux, et que nous continuerons \u00e0 l'\u00eatre de mani\u00e8re tr\u00e8s r\u00e9elle et tangible.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312801\" data-originallang=\"en\">Nous pouvons parler des sanctions, de l'aide et du soutien en mati\u00e8re d'armes militaires l\u00e9tales que nous avons fournis ou encore de l'aide humanitaire, tant de la part du gouvernement que de la population du Canada. Je suis toujours \u00e9tonn\u00e9 de voir le nombre de drapeaux ukrainiens qui flottent, que ce soit dans ma circonscription, Winnipeg-Nord, ou lorsque je conduis dans la r\u00e9gion d'Interlake. Partout au pays, nous voyons des drapeaux ukrainiens.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7312802\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je crois, comme je l'ai d\u00e9j\u00e0 dit, que c'est parce qu'il y a une solidarit\u00e9 ici, au Canada, pour soutenir l'Ukraine, et que ce mouvement est mondial. Nous continuerons \u00e0 \u00eatre pr\u00e9sents et \u00e0 reconna\u00eetre que les r\u00e9f\u00e9rendums sont une imposture.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/debates/2022/10/3/kevin-lamoureux-6/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/kevin-lamoureux/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/4032/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "11832132",
    "h1": {
        "en": "Routine Proceedings",
        "fr": "Affaires Courantes"
    },
    "h2": {
        "en": "Committees of the House",
        "fr": "Les comit\u00e9s de la Chambre"
    },
    "h3": {
        "en": "Foreign Affairs and International Development",
        "fr": "Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res et d\u00e9veloppement international"
    },
    "document_url": "/debates/2022/10/3/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fdebates%2F2022%2F10%2F3%2F"
    }
}