VICTORIA, B.C. - Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green Party, today introduces a Private Member’s Bill to establish a permanent day of remembrance for Holodomor in British Columbia. The Bill, The Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (“Holodomor”) Memorial Day Act, 2017, would establish the fourth Saturday in November as an official day of remembrance. During Holodomor, 4-10 million Ukrainians were killed as a result of a man-made famine in 1932-33. One-third of those killed were children. An earlier version of the bill was twice introduced by NDP MLA Bruce Ralston.
“It is time this important day of remembrance was recognized by B.C.’s legislature,” said Weaver.
“Canada is home to the world’s third-largest Ukrainian population behind Ukraine and Russia, with an estimated 1.36 million Ukrainian-Canadians living across the country. Among them are members of my family. In my family’s case, as part of Stalin’s collectivization of farms, my grandfather (gig) was shipped to Northern Russia. My mother was born in the Ukraine now lives here in Victoria.
“I thank Mr. Ralston for his continued efforts to have Holodomor recognized in this House. I also wish to thank the government for proclaiming as a one-time event November 25, 2017 as Holodomor Memorial Day, as well as the government’s commemoration of the victims of the famine and crimes against humanity in a ceremony this past weekend,” Weaver continued.
“Let us now take the next step of establishing an official day of remembrance for Holodomor to reaffirm our province’s commitment to freedom, equality and human rights.”
Weaver’s Bill, if passed, would make B.C. the fifth province to establish an official day of remembrance for Holodomor. Similar legislation has already been passed by the federal parliament, as well as by Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
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