Baird Meets with Ukrainian Canadian Community Leaders

May 31, 2012 - Ottawa - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird May 31 hosted a luncheon with key stakeholders from the Ukrainian-Canadian community following the annual meeting of the Canada-Ukraine Advisory Committee. Attendees at the luncheon included Bob Dechert, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Troy Lulashnyk, Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Jars Balan, Director, Ukrainian Canadian Congress, and other government and community representatives.

Brought together by a shared interest in strengthening Canada-Ukraine relations, the group had a fruitful discussion on Canada’s ongoing engagement with Ukraine, including the recent visit to Ukraine of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. The luncheon also provided an opportunity for frank dialogue between Minister Baird and members of the Ukrainian-Canadian community on the current challenges facing, and opportunities for, Canadian engagement with Ukraine.

NP - On June 1, 2012, during a media teleconference, Minister Baird delivered brief remarks to update the Ukrainian-Canadian media and took questions from reporters about his meeting with the Canada-Ukraine Advisory Committee.

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Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird at lunch meeting during Canada-Ukraine Advisory Committee Annual Meeting