Canadian Foreign Affairs Committee Visits Ukraine

Seven Canadian Members of Parliament representing the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development were in Ukraine recently for a six-day official visit to push for greater democracy in Ukraine. Starting May 14, the Hon. Bob Dechert, Hon. Lois Brown, Hon. Ralph Goodale, Dave Van Kesteren, Nina Grewal, Linda Duncan, and Alexandrine Latendresse conducted committee hearings open to the public and media in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv. Having been denied a formal visit to former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, the MPs stopped by informally at the hospital where she is being treated. They are seen here in the photo standing in front of the Kharkiv prison gates where she will be returned to demonstrate Canada’s deep opposition to Ukraine’s handling of Ms. Tymoshenko and many other political leaders.