Liberals Call on Government to Deliver Promised Aid to Ukraine

July 28, 2014

OTTAWA – Liberal MPs Marc Garneau and Chrystia Freeland sent the following joint letter to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird concerning the government’s lack of action on its promised aid to Ukraine:

Hon. John Baird, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Minister:

After your words of support for Ukraine earlier this week, as well as those of the Prime Minister, we were discouraged to learn that the federal government has not yet delivered on its commitment to provide much needed assistance to the people of Ukraine.

Canada’s announcement of financial aid support for Ukraine has not been realised, a reality that has caused the Ukrainian Ambassador to Canada to express profound concern. While we have heard that bureaucratic delays are the cause, these justifications provide no relief for Ukrainians or for the government of Ukraine, which is already facing difficult circumstances as a result of ongoing Russian aggression, a weakened economy, and tens of thousands of internal refugees.

Both the United States and the European Union have committed or already supplied billions of dollars of financial aid through loans and loan guarantees. Meanwhile, Canada has not delivered on its own promises of financial aid, all the while ignoring requests from the Ukrainian government for life-saving, non-lethal military aid and training in areas such as anti-terrorist operations.

Canadians and the Liberal Party of Canada stand united with the people of Ukraine. Now is the time to offer them real support as they undertake reforms that are essential for a prosperous and democratic future. The federal government has thus far failed to provide this much needed assistance.

Today, we are calling on the federal government to honour its commitments by immediately delivering economic and governance assistance, as well as non-lethal military aid, to Ukraine. Canada must seize this opportunity, not only to help build peace, but to help build a lasting, thriving, and modern Ukrainian economy in which Canada is a key partner.

Sincerely,

Marc Garneau
Liberal Party Critic for Foreign Affairs

Chrystia Freeland
MP for Toronto Centre