Minister Uppal concludes successful visit to Ukraine and Poland
October 30, 2014—Ottawa—The Honourable Tim Uppal, Minister of State for Multiculturalism, today concluded a trip to Ukraine and Poland, where he highlighted the importance of freedom and choice in a democratic society while also reiterating the Government of Canada’s commitment to a coordinated global effort against hatred and anti-Semitism.
While in Ukraine, Minister Uppal met with the head of Canada’s bilateral election observation mission, Senator Raynell Andreychuk, and thanked her and her team of experienced elections observers for their bravery, dedication and passion for the cause of Ukrainian democracy.
He also visited the regional United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office, and met with Reverend Mykhailo Melnyk of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association to discuss efforts to advance and promote religious freedom in both Canada and the Ukraine.
While in Kyiv, Minister Uppal visited the memorial to the Maidan’s Heavenly Hundred and placed flowers in their honour. He also paid his respects at the monument to the victims of the Holodomor genocide.
His trip continued in Poland, where he joined the Polish Ambassador to Canada at the grand opening of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, which presents the thousand-year history of Polish Jews. He also visited Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Warsaw, and Cardinal Stanis?aw Dziwisz, Archbishop of Krakow in Krakow, to discuss the importance of religious freedom, in Canada and abroad. Minister Uppal’s trip concluded with a tour of the Memorial and Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Quick facts
- Canada has a long history of supporting elections in Ukraine and is proud to have contributed some 300 observers to monitor Sunday’s Parliamentary elections, making it our eighth consecutive electoral observer mission to the country and second this year.
- The Government of Canada established the Office of Religious Freedom in February 2013 and has since established itself as a world leader in advancing and defending religious freedom around the world.
- Canada works collaboratively with Poland on Holocaust issues. Both countries are members of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), an intergovernmental forum devoted to promoting Holocaust commemoration, research, and education.
- In May 2012, Prime Minister Harper announced a $400,000 Government of Canada contribution to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation to help maintain the Auschwitz?Birkenau memorial site. Canada’s support will help conserve the buildings, grounds and historical objects that are endangered by erosion and deterioration.
Quote
“It was an honour to meet with my counterparts in Ukraine to reaffirm Canada’s support for Ukraine in advancing freedom and democracy. In addition, I was pleased to visit Poland and continue our government’s efforts to promote Holocaust remembrance, education and research, and to advance our coordinated global effort against hatred and anti-Semitism.”
Tim Uppal, Minister of State for Multiculturalism
Related product
- News Release – Canada Announces Support for Religious Freedom in Ukraine
Associated links
- Multiculturalism
- Canada’s Office of Religious Freedom
- Canadian Multiculturalism Act
- The Museum of the History of Polish Jews
- Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau
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Contacts
Joe Kanoza
Minister’s Office—Minister Uppal
613-954-1064
joe.kanoza@cic.gc.ca
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
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