Ukrainians elected to Canada's Parliament (07/18/04)

Ukrainians elected to Canada's Parliament

EDMONTON - At least four Ukrainian Canadians were elected as members of the Canadian Parliament in the most recent federal elections, according to Ukrainian News of Edmonton.

The newspaper reported in its June 29-July 30 issue that the four MPs of Ukrainian origin who were elected are: newcomer Borys Wrzesnewskyj, a Liberal Party member in the riding of Etobicoke Center, Ontario; Walt Lastewka, a Liberal in St. Catharines, Ontario; Judy Wasylycia-Leis, a member of the New Democratic Party, in Winnipeg North, Manitoba; and Mark Warawa, a Conservative Party member in Langley, British Columbia.

Mr. Wrzesnewskyj, it should be noted, received 58.34 percent of the votes. His closest competitor was fellow Ukrainian Canadian Lida Preyma, a Conservative, who received 28.26 percent.

Ukrainian News Editor Marco Levytsky reported also that there were five MPs with Ukrainian-sounding surnames who could be of Ukrainian origin, plus a number of other MPs who may be of Ukrainian or part-Ukrainian heritage but have non-Ukrainian surnames.

Mr. Levytsky added that one high-profile member of the Ukrainian community who did not succeed in his bid for Parliament was Jurij Klufas, producer of Kontakt TV, who ran on the Conservative Party ticket in Toronto's Parkdale-High Park riding.

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