Canadian senator introduces motion to recognize Famine

OTTAWA - Progressive Conservative Sen. Raynell Andreychuk, in a motion she proposed at the June 17 sitting of the Senate, called on the government of Canada to recognize the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933.

The motion calls for the recognition of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933 and condemnation of any attempt to deny or distort this historical truth as being anything less than a genocide; for the fourth Saturday in November to be designated as a day of remembrance for those who perished during the time of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide; and for all Canadians, particularly historians, educators and parliamentarians, to include the true facts of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide in the records of Canada and in future educational material.

In a speech on the Senate floor that accompanied the motion, Sen. Andreychuk signaled that this year, 2003, marks the 70th anniversary of the Famine-Genocide. She pointed ut that the Parliament of Ukraine has set a task "to honor the memory of the victims and to guarantee that this genocidal famine is not forgotten by generations to come."

Canada, too, must now take steps to assign those terrible events their rightful place in the annals of history," Sen. Andreychuk underscored.

Over 7 million people died in the state-organized Famine-Genocide that struck Ukraine in 1932-1933 when, under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union sought to destroy all opposition to forced collectivization. Many survivors of the Famine-Genocide later emigrated to Canada.

Sen. Andreychuk, who was born in Saskatoon, is a lawyer, former judge and former ambassador. She was appointed to the Senate of Canada on March 11, 1993. She currently serves on the Senate committees on Foreign Affairs; Legal and Constitutional Affairs; Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament; and Human Rights, which she chairs.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 22, 2003, No. 25, Vol. LXXI

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