(Версія українською мовою подана нижче)

Update on Canada’s Continued Support for Ukraine

Dear Members,

We would like to inform you and share recent updates regarding the Government of Canada’s continued support for Ukraine following the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24.

Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement announcing new and ongoing measures in support of Ukraine. Canada has stood with Ukraine at key moments throughout its history, including being the first Western nation to recognize Ukraine’s independence and launching Operation UNIFIER following Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea.

The Prime Minister confirmed that Canada is renewing Operation UNIFIER to continue training and strengthening Ukraine’s Armed Forces. He also announced approximately $2 billion in additional military assistance and $20 million to support the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by Russian strikes. In addition, Canada is imposing new sanctions targeting financial enablers of Russia’s war and further lowering the price cap on Russian crude oil.

Also, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence; the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; and the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), issued a joint statement detailing Canada’s continued support for Ukraine’s defence, humanitarian response and long-term recovery.

The Ministers confirmed that since 2022, Canada has committed over $25.5 billion in financial, military, humanitarian, immigration, recovery and reconstruction, and security and stabilization assistance to Ukraine. This includes more than $12 billion in direct financial support and $8.5 billion in military assistance, including armoured vehicles, air defence systems, uncrewed aerial systems and munitions. Through Operation UNIFIER, Canada has trained 47,000 members of Ukraine’s Security Forces.

The Ministers also noted that since 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 3,300 individuals complicit in violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and has sanctioned over 500 vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.

Canada continues to work with international partners through the Coalition of the Willing, the NATO-Ukraine Council, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.

Оновлення щодо подальшої підтримки України Канадою

Шановні члени організацій,

Хочемо поінформувати вас та поділитися оновленою інформацією щодо підтримки України з боку Уряду Канади у зв’язку з четвертою річницею повномасштабного вторгнення Росії 24 лютого.

Прем’єр-міністр Марк Карні оприлюднив заяву про нові та продовжені заходи на підтримку України. Канада стояла пліч-о-пліч з Україною у ключові моменти її історії, зокрема була першою західною державою, яка визнала незалежність України, а також започаткувала операцію UNIFIER після анексії Криму Росією у 2014 році.

Прем’єр-міністр підтвердив продовження операції UNIFIER з метою подальшої підготовки та зміцнення Збройних сил України. Також було оголошено про виділення приблизно 2 мільярдів доларів на додаткову військову допомогу та 20 мільйонів доларів на відбудову інфраструктури, пошкодженої внаслідок російських ударів. Крім того, Канада запроваджує нові санкції проти фінансових структур, які підтримують війну Росії, а також додатково знижує граничну ціну на російську сиру нафту.

Також Міністерка закордонних справ Аніта Ананд, Міністр національної оборони Девід Дж. Макґінті, Міністерка імміграції, біженців та громадянства Лена Метледж Діаб та Державний секретар з міжнародного розвитку Рандіп Сарай оприлюднили спільну заяву щодо подальшої підтримки Канадою оборони України, надання гуманітарної допомоги та довгострокового відновлення України.

Міністри підтвердили, що з 2022 року Канада надала понад 25,5 мільярдів доларів фінансової, військової, гуманітарної, імміграційної допомоги, а також підтримки у сферах відновлення, реконструкції, безпеки та стабілізації України. З цієї суми понад 12 мільярдів доларів становить пряма фінансова підтримка, а 8,5 мільярдів доларів пішли на військову допомогу, включаючи бронетехніку, системи протиповітряної оборони, безпілотні системи та боєприпаси. У межах операції UNIFIER Канада підготувала 47 000 військовослужбовців Сил оборони України.

Міністри також зазначили, що з 2014 року Канада запровадила санкції проти понад 3 300 осіб, причетних до порушення суверенітету України, а також застосувала санкції щодо понад 500 суден, пов’язаних із так званим «тіньовим флотом» Росії.

Канада продовжує співпрацювати з міжнародними партнерами в межах Коаліції охочих, Ради НАТО–Україна, Контактної групи з питань оборони України та Міжнародної коаліції за повернення українських дітей.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council in Edmonton is committed to safeguarding the personal information entrusted to us by our Ukrainian Newcomers. We manage your personal information in accordance with Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act and other applicable laws. This policy outlines the principles and practices we follow in protecting your personal information. 

 
What personal information do we collect? 

We collect only the personal information that we need for the purposes of providing services to our clients, including personal information needed to: 

• receive requested products and services, participation in volunteer activities; 
• enroll a support program; 
• send out promotional services 

We normally collect Ukrainian Newcomer personal information directly from our Ukrainian Newcomers. We may collect your information from other people with your consent or as authorized by law. We inform our Newcomers, before or at the time of collecting personal information, of the purposes for which we are collecting the information. The only time we do not provide this notification is when a person volunteers information for an obvious purpose. 

 
Consent 

We ask for consent to collect, use or disclose Newcomer personal information, except in specific circumstances where collection, use or disclosure without consent is authorized or required by law. We may assume your consent in cases where you volunteer information for an obvious purpose. We assume your consent to continue to use and, where applicable, disclose personal information that we have already collected, for the purpose for which the information was collected. A Newcomer may withdraw consent to the use and disclosure of personal information at any time, unless the personal information is necessary for us to fulfill our legal obligations. We will respect your decision, but we may be unable to allow you to participate or obtain certain products and services if we do not have the necessary personal information. We may collect, use or disclose Newcomer personal information without consent only as authorized by law. 

How do we use and disclose personal information? 

We use and disclose Newcomer personal information only for the purpose for which the information was collected, except as authorized by law. If we wish to use or disclose your personal information for any new Newcomer purpose, we will ask for your consent). 

What is personal volunteer or Newcomer information? 

Newcomer information is personal information about a Newcomer which is collected, used or disclosed solely for the purposes of establishing, managing or providing a Newcomer service. Personal Newcomer information may, in some circumstances, include your UCI number or IMM 1442 number, the date you left Ukraine etc. We can collect, use and disclose your personal Newcomer information without your consent only for the purposes of establishing, managing or providing Newcomer services. We will provide current Newcomers with prior notice about what information we collect, use or disclose and our purpose for doing so. 

What personal volunteer information do we collect, use and disclose? 

We collect, use and disclose personal newcomer information to meet the following purposes: 

• determining eligibility for free Ukrainian Newcomer services; 
• managing an exclusive newcomer mailing list to enroll Newcomers in promotional services; 

We only collect, use and disclose the amount and type of personal Newcomer information that is reasonable to meet the above purposes. The following is a list of personal Newcomer information that we may collect, use and disclose to meet those purposes. 

• contact information such as your name, home address, and telephone number; 
• passport and immigration services; 
• other personal information required for the purposes of our Newcomer services. 

How do we safeguard personal information? 

We make every reasonable effort to ensure that personal information is accurate and complete. We rely on individuals to notify us if there is a change to their personal information that may affect their relationship with our organization. If you are aware of an error in our information about you, please let us know and we will correct it on request wherever possible. In some cases, we may ask for a written request for correction. We protect personal information in a manner appropriate for the sensitivity of the information. We make every reasonable effort to prevent any loss, misuse, disclosure or modification of personal information, as well as any unauthorized access to personal information. 
 

Access to records containing personal information 

Individuals have a right to access their own personal information in a record that is in the custody or under the control of Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council subject to some exceptions. For example, organizations are required under the Personal Information Protection Act to refuse to provide access to information that would reveal personal information about another individual. You may make a request for access to your personal information by writing to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council. You must provide sufficient information in your request to allow us to identify the information you are seeking. 

Biography:

Bohdan Romaniuk is a lawyer, economist, and semi-retired business executive.

Bohdan has been an active member of the Ukrainian community in Canada for over 60 years. Between 2001 and 2012, Bohdan served on the Investment Committee of the Shevchenko Foundation. He has also served on the Executive Committee and/or Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association of Calgary since 2007, including eight years as President. Bohdan has served as the UCC-APC representative on the Canada-Ukraine Foundation Executive Committee and Board of Directors since 2016. In 2018, Bohdan was elected to the Board of Directors of New Pathway – Ukrainian News.

Bohdan had the honour of receiving an Executive Hetman Award in 2018 and a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award for Volunteerism and Community Service in 2023. In addition, on November 14, 2022 he was added to Putin’s list of Canadians who are officially persona non grata in Russia because of their activities in opposition to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Speech

This is Where It Ends*

• Abridged version of the speech delivered by Canada-Ukraine Foundation and UCPBA Calgary Board member, and Ukrainian-Canadian community activist, Bohdan Romaniuk on February 24, 2023 at the Calgary Vigil commemorating the first anniversary of the War in Ukraine.
  One year ago today, Putin unleashed unspeakable horrors upon Ukraine.
  Yet, there is little that is new in what Putin has done and is doing. A long line of Bolshevik butchers and Russian Tsars before them have all engaged to a greater or lesser extent in imperial conquest, colonial exploitation, systematic Russification and, at different times, genocide itself not only to rid the world of all traces of the Ukrainian language, all expressions of Ukrainian culture, and all facets of Ukrainian nationhood but to crush the centuries-old dream of the
  Ukrainian people to live and govern themselves in a free, democratic, independent, and sovereign Ukrainian state.
  While Putin is by no means the first or only Russian autocrat or dictator to use overwhelming force to try and absorb Ukraine into the Russian empire, or destroy it in the process, he will be the last Russian leader to ever attempt it. Ukraine’s
  message to Putin is crystal clear… “It ends here”.
  Consider the fact that…
  Putin Has Already Lost Ukraine
  • Putin completely misread how Ukrainians would respond to his invasion last year. Rather than being greeted with bread and salt, flowers and song, and dancing and jubilation, his armies were battered and thrashed and delivered a beating north of Kyiv they will not soon forget.
  • Putin has done more to unite Ukrainians than any leader, Ukrainian or foreign, in the past several centuries. He has strengthened national self-awareness in Ukraine, highlighted the profound differences in the national character, culture, spirit and values of Ukrainians relative to their Russian
  neighbours, fostered the rapid spread of the Ukrainian language in all aspects of life and across all regions of Ukraine, and spurred a genuine interest in Ukrainian history – especially in universities outside of Ukraine which, for far too long, have taught Ukrainian history, if they have taught it at all, solely from the perspective of imperial Russia. To Putin’s utter dismay, the world is just now beginning to appreciate not only how
  different Ukraine is from Russia, but how much of what it used to think it knew about Ukraine is mere propaganda from the Communist era or, as concerns Russia’s claims to early Ukrainian history, is but a tissue of Tsarist lies.
  • Napoleon once famously said that in war “the moral is to the physical, as three is to one”. By this he meant that an army’s morale contributes far more to success in combat than do sheer numbers. That is clearly the case in Ukraine where, despite Russia’s overwhelming advantage in munitions
  and manpower, Putin’s armies cannot match the fierce determination, courage, and indomitable spirit of Ukraine’s smaller and significantly outgunned forces. Ukrainians know that if they lose, Ukraine will cease to
  exist. Russia’s soldiers, meanwhile, have no idea why they’re in Ukraine. First, Putin told them they were fighting Nazis. Then it was Satanists. Then Putin admitted he simply wants what Ukraine has and will proceed to take it even if it means killing every single Ukrainian to do so.
  • No individual since NATO’s creation has done more than Putin to strengthen the resolve, unity of purpose, and internal cohesion of NATO members. Putin has driven traditionally neutral countries such as Finland and Sweden to apply for membership in the alliance and can also take credit for NATO members agreeing, for the first time in decades, to increase their military spending to modernize their armies in response to the threat Russia represents to Europe and the post-WWII rules-based international order.
  • Let us also not forget that it is Putin’s actions that have led to the emergence of President Zelenskyy as Ukraine’s outstanding wartime leader and the pre-eminent political figure in the world today.
  • Putin’s place in history, meanwhile, is already assured. He will long be remembered not as a mere murderer, liar, or thief (of which the world has no shortage) but as one of history’s greatest losers or, as Ukrainians everywhere prefer to call him: “Хуйло”. He will be forever tainted and taunted as the man who single-handedly lost the war to what? …to a country 1/28th the size of Russia, with a population barely one-quarter as large, possessing no nuclear weapons, no navy, no air force to speak of, no modern weapons beyond those provided to her by allies, led by a President who built an acting career playing an accidental President in a TV comedy show, and defended by a volunteer army of warrior-poets who, like all Ukrainians everywhere, burst into song at every opportunity. Today, 98%
  of Ukrainians want nothing to do with Russia and have proclaimed loudly and clearly to the world: Ukraine is not Russia, has never been Russia and never will be Russia.
  The Decline and Fall of the Russian Empire
  • Putin’s accomplishments are legion. He has turned Russia into a pariah state, precipitated the inevitable collapse of his own economy, and left Russia’s army in tatters.
  • Let’s start with Putin’s war aims. Evidently, Putin’s messaging has failed to inspire large numbers of recruits to fight and die in Ukraine. The result has been a literal torrent, an absolute avalanche of military-age men fleeing Russia, in every direction. Last year, some one million army-age citizens fled to Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Armenia, and Serbia plus a dozen other
  countries.
  • These individuals are generally young, well-educated, skilled professionals. It’s unlikely that many will return any time soon. Their loss to Russia represents a triple blow: (1) they will be unavailable for military service ; (2) their absence will aggravate shortages in key sectors of the Russian economy, especially in IT and high-tech; and (3) fewer children will be born in Russia. In fact, demographers have described the confluence of war,
  emigration, and plunging birth rates as the perfect demographic storm. The ongoing decline in Russia’s population is now accelerating.
  • Russia began its large-scale invasion one year ago with some 200,000 soldiers. It has since that time lost at least that many soldiers counting dead, injured, and missing in action. Were it not for Putin’s massive mobilizations these past 6 months when upwards of half a million new recruits have been thrown into the fray, little would have been left of Russia’s invading force.
  • The recent mobilizations have only accelerated Russia’s war losses. Putin’s strategy has been reduced to trying to overwhelm Ukrainian forces with endless waves of human cannon fodder in frontline settlements like Soledar, Bakhmut and Vuhledar. Of course, for this strategy to make any
  sense at all, it is essential that Ukraine run out of ammunition before Russia runs out of soldiers. It’s unlikely to be a very good bet. Although Ukraine’s losses in these battles have been and continue to be significant, Russia’s are staggering, numbering in the many thousands per week.
  • Russia’s equipment losses this past year have likewise been massive. No army on the planet has been as badly mauled as Russia’s has in active combat anywhere in the world since WWII.
  • So badly has Russia’s military performed that Putin has changed his top military commander 4 times in the space of a year.
  • And so hollowed out from corruption, mismanagement, poor morale, and sheer incompetence has been Russia’s armed forces, that within months of his invasion, Putin had to resort to begging for manpower, munitions and drones from a who’s who of the world’s worst dictatorships including Chechnya, North Korea, Syria, and Iran. That is what mighty Russia, with the 2nd largest army in the world, has been reduced to.
  • The truth is, Russia is no more than a second-rate military power. Unfortunately, it also possesses a large nuclear arsenal which it uses to threaten WWIII every week or two.
  • So demented is the taunting by Russian TV talk show hosts and the likes of former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev about the use of nuclear weapons, and so deranged are the allusions to reducing London or Washington or other western capitals to radioactive ash, that it is simply impossible to take such scare-mongering seriously.
  • Besides, two of Russia’s most important trading partners and/or allies, which also happen to be the two most populous countries in the world, and nuclear powers in their own right, namely, China and India, have repeatedly, and very publicly, rebuked Putin for his threats to use nuclear weapons. When friends, not enemies, castigate you for nuclear sabre-rattling, perhaps it’s time to stop. Such public admonitions and
  remonstrations against the use of nuclear weapons, especially from friendly quarters, cannot but be a sobering reminder that simply shouting stupid things out loud does not render a dictator more fearsome to his enemies.
  Rather, it creates an impression of weakness and resignation to failure and defeat.
  • Finally, a word about sanctions. They’re not only working, they’re working far better than expected despite Putin’s repeated denials and boasts to the contrary. Sanctions are seriously weakening Russia’s economy and are making it more difficult for Putin to continue waging war against Ukraine.
  Consider the following: (1) Russia’s exports of gas have been cut in half and there are no ready markets for what remains unsold. (2) Russia’s revenues from oil exports are also plummeting because of much lower prices. Putin
  will be extremely lucky if 2023 oil and gas revenues reach one-half of last year’s totals. (3) Much of Russia’s domestic manufacturing capacity, which was not large to begin with, has been idled by a shortage of microchips. (4) And finally, Russia’s weapons industry is now working around the clock to
  try and replace massive equipment losses, as well as the rockets, missiles, and millions of artillery and mortar shells expended thus far. Closely related, Russia’s relatively large weapons export business has all but disappeared for two reasons (i) Russia needs the weapons itself and (ii) the
  abysmal performance to date of Russian military equipment has significantly dampened global demand.
  Concluding Remarks
  • It is said that wars ultimately end, not as a result of specific battles, but when it becomes clear that a country can no longer recruit enough soldiers and/or manufacture or acquire fresh supplies of ammunition and equipment as quickly as they are being used up or destroyed on the battlefield.
  • Well, Russia is at that point already. Millions of Russian military-age men want nothing to do with Putin’s war. They have either already left Russia, or will do so as new mobilizations are announced. Putin, as well as the Wagner
  group, long ago ran out of volunteers and have been recruiting tens of thousands of convicted criminals to join the ranks of Russia’s armed forces or mercenary groups. Russia’s battlefield losses meanwhile have been extraordinary. Most of Russia’s elite battalions have long since been liquidated by Ukraine and the vast majority of its soldiers are now relatively
  untrained recruits.
  • Putin is now knocking on China’s door for weapons and is recruiting new mercenaries anywhere he can find them since his policy of throwing bodies into a meatgrinder is not working out as well as he had hoped. That’s what happens when military-age men have access to the internet and realize
  how little Putin actually cares whether they live or die.
  • Russia is losing this war because the people Putin is sending to die in Ukraine has no stake in his insane and vainglorious dream of empire. Ukrainians know precisely what is at stake for themselves, their families, their communities, and their country. And so they fight on with valour, honour and conviction.
  • It is because of these valiant men and women warriors that Ukraine is and shall forever remain unbreakable, unconquerable and indivisible.
  • Слава Україні

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Bicycle Donations for Ukrainian Newcomers accepted by Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council Aug 19, 2022

We are pleased to launch our donation campaign for bicycles for Ukrainian newcomers as part of the support offered at our warehouse.

• Aside from being an excellent activity for a single person or a family to partake in, cycling is a great way to explore your city and your surroundings.

• It is excellent for both physical and mental health; cycling helps improve the body’s cardiovascular system.

• It has been proven to help manage anxiety and trauma.

We are asking Edmontonians and people from surrounding areas to donate new or previously-enjoyed bicycles in good condition so that we can repurpose them to new owners who will appreciate the gift.

If you are able to assist with fixing and tuning up our donated bicycles please reach out via email at info@uccab.ca or phone 780-414-1624!

• Bicycles are just one of the items that are currently in demand from our warehouse.

• We are also seeking NEW helmets in the original packaging.

Location: Boilermakers’ Union Hall (15330 – 114 Ave.)

Hours: Tues & Thurs 6 – 8 PM; Sat & Sun 12 – 4PM