Parliament Commons Passes Holodomor Bill

OTTAWA – Selkirk-Interlake Conservative MP James Bezan rose in the House of Commons on Tuesday, May 27 and with the support of all parties, successfully moved that his Private Member’s Bill C-459 be passed at all stages. The Bill establishes a Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day every fourth Saturday of November and recognizes the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 as an act of genocide. In one ‘fast-track” move, the Bill was deemed to have been read a second time, considered in committee, reported, concurred in, read a third time and passed. Bill C-459 then went the Senate, where it passed all stages on Wednesday, May 28.  The Bill received Royal Assent by the Governor General of Canada on Thursday, May 29 at her Official Residence, Rideau Hall.

The Honourable Senator Raynell Andreychuk in 2003, marking the 70th anniversary of the Holodomor, brought forward a motion in the Senate of Canada where senators discussed and passed a resolution with unanimous consent calling upon the Government of Canada to recognize the Holodomor as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people. “It is important that this bill be recognized by Parliament and the Government of Canada, which will allow us to honour the victims and survivors of the Holodomor that are in Canada, Ukraine and around the world.  It will also let Ukraine and the International community know that Canada supports calling Holodomor, a genocide,” said Senator Andreychuk. James Bezan thanked the Senator

“who sponsored my Bill in the Senate and expedited its quick passage.” Bezan also stated “This bill is about recognizing a historic wrong ignored by the West.  The communist ideology of Soviet Dictator Joseph Stalin targeted and exterminated millions of Ukrainian men, women and children through forced famine.”

In a show of solidarity, Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Etobicoke Centre) supported the move and ensured that the Holodomor Bill would be passed at all stages. On May 27, in the House of Commons, Wrzesnewskyj stated in his concluding remarks: “Discussions have taken place this afternoon among all parties and in the spirit of those two words, Bil’sh nikoly - “never again”, at the end of today’s debate there will be an unusual display of goodwill among all parties and respect for the millions who perished. There will be agreement on amendments to the Holodomor famine-genocide bill which will allow its passage at all stages so it can be sent to the Senate.”

During his final speech in the House of Commons, Bezan stated, “I want to thank the member for Etobicoke Centre for his hard work on behalf of all Ukrainians and for making sure that we get this done today,” in recognition of Wrzesnewskyj’s crucial role in gaining all-party support. Bezan also expressed his appreciation for the all party support that he received from the Liberal Party, New Democratic Party, and Bloc Quebecois.

Ukrainian President, Victor Yushchenko, asked for Canada’s support in recognizing the Holodomor as genocide. Bezan met the President and personally discussed the Bill with him on Monday, May 26 during the President’s state visit to Ottawa. “I cannot stress enough the importance of recognizing the Holodomor now as genocide even though the West sat silent while this took place,” concluded Bezan. “This is an important time for Ukraine, for this Parliament and for Canada.”

Bezan has also recognized The Hon. Jason Kenney, Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity and Canadian Friends of Ukraine for their encouragement and help in drafting the legislation. Ukrainian Canadian Congress President Paul Grod said “After much hard work on the part of the community to educate Canadians about the true nature of the Holodomor in Ukraine 1932-33, it was gratifying to hear Secretary of State Kenney announce that Canada will move to recognize the Holodomor as genocide.” Later, speaking with community leaders, Wrzesnewskyj said that he would “like to congratulate Mr. Bezan on the passage of his bill and to thank him for his determination.”

The Bill was first introduced last year as Ukrainian-Canadians and the international community marked the 75^th anniversary of one of the most heinous crimes in modern history - the state-sponsored Famine-Genocide of 1932-33 in Ukraine, perpetrated by the Communist regime under Soviet dictator, Josef Stalin against the Ukrainian people. For decades the truth about this horrific crime was suppressed and denied by Soviet authorities.