Parliament passes NDP motion to honour Ukraine’s brave fight after 1,000 days of Putin’s invasion

OTTAWA – On Tuesday, an NDP motion to honour those who have given their lives in defence of Ukraine and reaffirm Canada’s unwavering commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine against Putin’s aggression was adopted unanimously by all parliamentarians.

The motion was presented by NDP foreign affairs critic MP Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona).

“It’s been 1,000 days since Canadians and the whole world watched in horror as Putin launched his full-scale invasion into Ukraine,” said McPherson. “We need to do everything possible to help Ukraine, stand up for human rights and democracy around the world. Canada has a role to play and it’s in incumbent on all parliamentarians to give steadfast support.”

McPherson’s motion also calls on supporting Ukraine’s future NATO membership and other measures to support Ukrainians against Russia’s aggression, such as strengthening of sanctions and banning all forms of Russian state media in Canada.

“I’m proud of the work that New Democrats have done, forcing the government to put harsher sanctions on Putin and getting parliament to recognize Russian aggression in Ukraine as an act of genocide,” added McPherson. “Ukraine needs our help and we must be there for them.”

See text of the motion below:

i) the House unanimously adopted the motions of 27 April 2022 on the recognition of the fact that the Russian Federation is committing acts of genocide against the Ukrainian people, of 21 September 2023, to condemn the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation and of 15 February 2024 on the condemnation of the continuation of Russia's unjustified massive aggression against Ukraine;

ii) 1000 days after Russia's unjustified aggression against Ukraine, there is clear and abundant evidence of the continuation of the crime of genocide against the Ukrainian people, on the territory of Ukraine, by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin and others in the Russian government and parliament, this chamber;

(a) Condemns Russia's continuing massive and unjustified aggression against Ukraine and recognises that Ukraine is on the front line of the free world, defending the values of freedom, democracy, global security and human rights;

(b) Honour those who have given their lives in defence of these shared values, and reaffirm Canada's unwavering commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine;

(c) Recognises that Vladimir Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, resulting in daily atrocities against the Ukrainian people, including genocide, crimes against humanity and violent crimes of aggression;

(d) Calls on Russia to completely cease hostilities against Ukraine and to withdraw all its troops and armed forces from the territory of Ukraine;

(e) Calls on the Federal Government to continue to provide substantial military and humanitarian support to Ukraine in order to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace;

(f) Calls for a ban on all forms of Russian state media in Canada;

(g) Supports Ukraine's future membership of NATO;

(h) Calls for the strengthening of sanctions against Russia, including accountability for the circumvention of sanctions in the energy, military and technology sectors;

(i) Calls for all possible efforts to be made to ensure the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, illegally detained civilians and children forcibly deported to Russia, and to support efforts to bring to justice those responsible for crimes of aggression and war crimes;