Parliament unified in support of Ukraine

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/04/2022 (1545 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Most Canadians take for granted that politicians always seem to be at each other’s throats.

I often get asked why is your party so critical of the government? Why are you always opposed to anything the government does?

My response is usually something like… “Well, it is the job of the official opposition to oppose the government and to hold the government to account. It is an extremely important role in a parliamentary democracy.”

We see time and time again that countries without a strong political opposition often take a dark path.

We see this happening right now, before our eyes as Vladimir Putin wields the full military might of Russia against the freedom-loving, democratic state of Ukraine.

Mr. Putin has no real political opposition to hold him to account, and he actively works to punish those who speak against him.

We are lucky to live in a country where we are free to speak our minds, and where the official opposition operates as a check and balance in a system designed to hold the Prime Minister and his or her government responsible for the decisions they make.

I will say, however, that in my short time in Parliament since 2019 I have never seen MP’s of all political stripes so unified over a single issue. As Parliamentarians we are united in our opposition to Russia’s unwarranted and horrific aggression in Ukraine.

Ukraine is a democratic parliamentary democracy. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a profile in courage, a true hero to the Ukrainian people and inspires hope in us all. We must do all we can to help him and all Ukrainians weather this terrible storm and to hold Mr. Putin and his regime to account.

NATO countries and, in fact, all countries that value freedom and democracy have rallied together to impose the most wide0ranging economic sanctions in history. These are sanctions not just against the Russian state but also Magnitsky-style sanctions that punish individuals financially. They allow us to freeze the Canadian assets of Russian oligarchs who protect Mr. Putin.

Canada, along with its allies, has also provided financial support, humanitarian supports, ammunition, and lethal weapons to Ukraine. Through Operation Unifier, Canada has trained over 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers to fight back. Canada should also be waiving the visa requirements for those fleeing Ukraine in search of safe harbour.

Every year I donate my annual salary increase to a charity in our community. This year I have decided to donate my annual salary increase to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation – Ukrainian Canadian Congress (General humanitarian appeal) at cufoundation.ca

Might cannot make right.

Mr. Putin’s aggression cannot stand, and as Canadians we are united in standing on guard for Ukraine.