I rose to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the famine-genocide in Ukraine known as the Holodomor
November 21, 2023
Today, in the House of Commons, I rose to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the famine-genocide in Ukraine known as the Holodomor, when Joseph Stalin closed Ukraine's borders and confiscated all food to destroy a Ukrainian population opposed to his rule.
19 people per minute, 1,200 per hour and 28,000 per day were dying of famine at the height of the Holodomor. The world was silent, millions died as a result.
My grandmother Olena was a survivor of the Holodomor. She once told me that she hoped the victims of the Holodomor would not only be remembered, but that they would be honoured.
Honouring them she said, meant not just remembering them or commemorating them, but taking the steps to ensure that a crime like this never happens again.
Right now in Russian occupied Ukraine it is happening again.
- Russia is torturing, raping and executing civilians.
- Russia is deporting children to Russia.
- Russia is committing genocide again.
The only way to stop this is for Canada and our allies to provide the support needed to ensure Ukraine recaptures all of its territory - to ensure Ukraine achieves a decisive victory.
Let us do as my grandmother would have asked if she were here today – Let us remember the victims; let us commemorate the victims; let us honour them.
