NDP MP pushes parliament to recognize genocide against Ukrainians

OTTAWA –Yesterday, NDP critic for Foreign Affairs, Heather McPherson, pushed Parliament to recognize that Russia is carrying out a genocide against the Ukrainian people. For weeks, there has been mounting evidence that war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed against the people of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, including the forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. McPherson says this motion is a confirmation that all parties agree about the severity of the situation and believes this is an important step to compel the government to provide more support for Ukrainians.

"Canadians are horrified by the reports they are seeing. The violence perpetrated by Putin and the Russian federation against the Ukrainian people must be labelled for what it is– a genocide,” said McPherson. “I moved this motion today to urge the government to do everything in its power to help Ukrainians who are fleeing violence. The government has been telling Canadians they’re doing everything they can, but we recently learned that the Liberals acted so slowly with their economic measures that a Russian oligarch had time to move his wealth --over 100 million dollars--before sanctions were imposed. The point of the motion is to reiterate our solidarity with Ukrainians as they fight through unspeakable violence and atrocities, and to put as much pressure as possible on the government to address the situation with the urgency needed.”

Since Putin’s most recent invasion of Ukraine, civilians have been targeted and killed, there have been reports of sexual violence against Ukrainians, humanitarian corridors have been denied, and Ukrainian children have been forcibly relocated to Russia. New Democrats have repeatedly called for additional aid and for visa requirements for Ukrainians to be dropped, yet the Liberal government has failed to lift these requirements, leaving Ukrainians stranded.

“Ukrainians’ lives are at stake. Millions of people have fled the violence in Ukraine and are now desperate for refuge in other countries,” said McPherson. “Today, Parliament recognized that Ukrainians are facing acts of genocide, and this is an important and necessary step in making sure the federal government is doing everything possible to end this needless suffering."