Legislative Debate (7 March 2022)

From Hansard (7 March 2022)

 

Emergency Motion in Support for Ukraine

The Assembly was debating the following motion moved by Premier Scott Moe:

That the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan express its unwavering support for Ukraine’s people, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and that this Assembly condemns Russia’s wholly unprovoked and wanton invasion of Ukraine and calls on Russia to cease and withdraw all military options within Ukraine immediately.

Mr. Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tonight I would like to join with my colleagues on both sides of the House to denounce this unprovoked invasion of a peaceful and democratic Ukraine. Like the member from The Battlefords was just stating, I too was at the rally in Saskatoon in support of Ukraine on February 27th. It was an incredible event. It was solemn but yet very, very powerful. And he was right. When the Ukrainian national anthem was sung followed by the Canadian national anthem, it was incredible.

Fifteen per cent of our province’s population is of Ukrainian background. Ukraine is well represented in all of our cities, towns, villages, and in our rural areas. I spent part of my life in The Battlefords growing up, and many of my friends growing up are Ukrainian. Went to school, played sports, and worked alongside many of them. And more recently in my professional life as the MLA [Member of the Legislative Assembly] for Martensville-Warman, I’ve gotten to know Warman’s mayor, Gary Philipchuk, quite a bit better. Gary and his wife, Marilyn, are both proud Ukrainians, and I can’t think of more exuberant and positive people in our city.

I just received a text message earlier this afternoon, and Gary and Marilyn have friends that are leaving Kyiv as we speak and Marilyn’s family is in Western Ukraine. So they’re in the process of inquiring about bringing their friends here as well. And that goes to show our government’s resolve to bring as many of these people from Ukraine seeking refuge to Saskatchewan through the immigrant nomination program or whatever other means we need in order to accomplish this.

Like Gary and all other Canadians, my heart is very heavy watching what is happening to the millions of innocent people who have lost loved ones or are hunkered down just hoping to survive. Over 1.5 million Ukrainians have fled for safety of neighbouring countries as of yesterday, and many more are to come. Our province became home to tens of thousands of immigrants from Ukraine in our province’s early days, and our government is again opening those doors and we want as many to come here for a new start and a promising future.

As Canadians it’s incomprehensible, violent, unprovoked and unnecessary and beyond cruel what is happening in that country right now. And as Canadians we cannot tolerate the violence, the senseless actions that Putin and his regime are causing. That’s why I’m standing today representing everybody in my constituency, Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians alike, and supporting the motion put forward by our government to condemn this unjustified and callous invasion of Ukraine by Putin and his military advisors. Slava Ukraini. Glory to Ukraine.

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