Prime Minister Harper congratulates former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney on award at Ukrainian tribute dinner

Prime Minister Stephen Harper celebrated the historic ties between Canada and Ukraine at a tribute dinner for the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, hosted by the Ukrainian Embassy and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

“No western country has closer ties to Ukraine than Canada,” Prime Minister Harper said. “A century ago, when settlers from all over the world were arriving into the Canadian prairies, Ukrainians were one of the largest immigrant groups. There are over a million Canadians of Ukrainian heritage today, and they have made their mark in every part of Canada, in every field of endeavour.”

Prime Minister Harper applauded Ukraine President Victor Yushchenko for awarding the Order of King Yaroslav the Wise to Mr. Mulroney. The award recognizes the former Prime Minister’s role in supporting Ukraine’s Declaration of Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and in fostering positive Canada-Ukraine relations.

“Under Mr. Mulroney’s leadership Canada was the first country in the West to recognize Ukrainian independence. Our country stood with the brave people of Ukraine, of the Baltic republics and the other captive nations of central and eastern Europe,” Prime Minister Harper said. “Today they are free people living in free nations. And they are grateful to the strong western leaders who stood firm against the Communists and their apologists.

“Ukrainians can rest assured,” the Prime Minister concluded, “that Canada’s New Government will continue to support Ukraine’s right to determine her own destiny.”