Canadian Ukrainians approve of new minister

TORONTO - Canada's Ukrainian community has reacted favorably to the appointment of Jean Augustine, member of Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore as secretary of state for multiculturalism and the status of women.

Speaking for the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association its chairman, John B Gregorovich, said: "Ms. Augustine represents a working-class riding [district] in west-central Toronto, which is home to a large number of Ukrainian Canadians. In the past she has said that she would personally take up the case for redress to the Ukrainian Canadian community for the wrongs done to us during Canada's first national internment operations in her capacity as parliamentary secretary to our prime minister."

Just last April, Mr. Gregorovich pointed out, "she wrote to the UCCLA's director of research, confirming her personal support for a private member's bill, Bill C-331, the Ukrainian Canadian Restitution Act, first tendered by Inky Mark, MP (Dauphin-Swan River). We hope that, as secretary of state for multiculturalism, Ms. Augustine will now act on her pledges and meet with representatives of our community to resolve this matter in a timely and honorable fashion."

"We are hopeful that her appointment indicates a willingness on the part of this government to finally work with us to right this historical injustice," the UCCLA leader said.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 30, 2002, No. 26, Vol. LXX

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