Canada-Ukraine relations

Canada-Ukraine relations [http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-europa/ukraine/can_Ukr-en.asp Canadian Embassy in Kyiv, Government of Canada] ] (also called Ukraine-Canada relations [http://www.mfa.gov.ua/canada/en/publication/content/7979.htm Embassy of Ukraine in Canada - Political Affairs] ] ) are the interstate ties between Canada and Ukraine.

History

Most of the modern relationship between the two countries is built around the legacy of mass Ukrainian immigration to Canada in four distinct waves, beginning in the late 19th century and continuing to the present day. [http://www.mfa.gov.ua/canada/en/publication/content/7979.htm Embassy of Ukraine in Canada - Political Affairs] ]

In the early part of this migration there were no relations as such, since during this era neither Canada (a British Dominion) nor Ukraine (an ethnic region partitioned between the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires) was sovereign.

By the end of the Second World War, Canada did have more independence in foreign affairs. This led to intense debate within Canada, and especially within the Ukrainian community, over whether or not to support the Soviet government in Ukraine. Nationalist and religious groups were anti-Soviet, while socialist groups like the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians were pro-Soviet. The Canadian government typically steered a middle course and did have some direct relations with the Ukrainian SSR (a theoretically sovereign entity with its own seat at the UN).

By the time of Ukraine's independence, nationalist voices in Canada's Ukrainian community had won out and Canada became the first Western country to recognize Ukraine's independence on December 2, 1991. [http://www.mfa.gov.ua/canada/en/publication/content/7979.htm Embassy of Ukraine in Canada - Political Affairs] ]

Formal relations

Diplomatic relations were established between Canada and Ukraine on January 27, 1992. [http://www.mfa.gov.ua/canada/en/publication/content/7979.htm Embassy of Ukraine in Canada - Political Affairs] ] Canada opened its embassy in Kiev [The capital of Ukraine (commonly "Kiev" in English) is officially recognized by both the Canadian and Ukrainian governments as "Kyiv" in all English communications (although not in French).] in April 1992 [http://www.mfa.gov.ua/canada/en/publication/content/7979.htm Embassy of Ukraine in Canada - Political Affairs] ] , and the Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa opened in October of that same year [http://www.mfa.gov.ua/canada/en/publication/content/7979.htm Embassy of Ukraine in Canada - Political Affairs] ] , paid for mostly by donations from the Ukrainian-Canadian community. Ukraine opened a consulate general in Toronto in 1993 [http://www.mfa.gov.ua/canada/en/publication/content/7979.htm Embassy of Ukraine in Canada - Political Affairs] ,] and announced plans to open another in Edmonton in 2008 [http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/local/story.html?id=26c438a2-4fad-4bc8-ad0e-0f17d70225fa&k=66349 Edmonton Journal] ] . Canada also has a consulate in L'viv.

The main bilateral agreement signed between the two governments is the joint declaration of the "Special Partnership" between the two countries signed in 1994 and renewed in 2001. [http://www.mfa.gov.ua/canada/en/publication/content/7979.htm Embassy of Ukraine in Canada - Political Affairs] ]

Politics

All Canadian poltical parties are keen to be seen promoting what they see as democratic trends in Ukraine, and for most this also includes encouraging Ukraine to join Western institutions like the EU, NATO [http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-europa/ukraine/can_Ukr-en.asp Canadian Embassy in Kyiv, Government of Canada] ] , and the WTO while turning away from Russia. This is a delicate matter as ties with Russia vs. the West are a normally a sensitive election issue in Ukraine, and it would violate protocol for the Canadian government to interfere in Ukrainian elections, and could politically damage pro-Western forces in the country. Nevertheless, many Canadians (including members of parliament, and former Prime Minister John Turner) were part of an international monitoring team that criticized Ukraine's 2004 presidential election. [http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-europa/ukraine/can_Ukr-en.asp Canadian Embassy in Kyiv, Government of Canada] ] Canadian media were typically sympathetic to the forces of the Orange Revolution, with the national magazine "Maclean's" running a front page story on the protests. When, after the election was rerun and Viktor Yushchenko eventually declared winner, the Canadian governor general, Adrienne Clarkson went to Ukraine for Yushchenko's investiture [http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-europa/ukraine/can_Ukr-en.asp Canadian Embassy in Kyiv, Government of Canada] ] wearing an orange scarf, the colour of his party.

Sub-national ties

So much about the relationship is based on the legacy of migration, however Ukrainians moving to Canada did not come equally from all parts of Ukraine, or move equally to all parts of Canada. In fact the majority of Ukrainians coming to the Canadian province of Alberta between 1893 and 1929 all came from a few small districts in western Ukraine, many of them in modern-day Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. Consequently, Alberta's then-premier Ralph Klein visited Ivano-Frankivsk in 2002 and was in turn visited in Edmonton by the governor of Ivano-Frankivsk, Mykhailo Vyshyvaniuk, and the two governments signed a trade and cooperation agreement. [http://www.mfa.gov.ua/canada/en/publication/content/7979.htm Embassy of Ukraine in Canada - Political Affairs] ] Alberta is expected to sign a similar document with neighbouring Lviv Oblast [http://www.mfa.gov.ua/canada/en/publication/content/7979.htm Embassy of Ukraine in Canada - Political Affairs] ] , and current Alberta premier Ed Stelmach is himself of Ukrainian origin.

Humanitarian and development aid to Ukraine

Canadian organizations, including non-governmental, are active in providing different kinds of aid to Ukraine. Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) funded the establishment of Centre for Small Business and Economic Development (SBEDIF) in Ivano-Frankivsk [http://www.dfait.gc.ca/canada-europa/ukraine/press24042002-en.asp Canadian Embassy in Kyiv, Government of Canada] ] , CAD $3.8 million were assigned for regional network project to support small business growth and economic development in five additional communities in the same oblast in Western Ukraine. [http://www.dfait.gc.ca/canada-europa/ukraine/press24042002-en.asp Canadian Embassy in Kyiv, Government of Canada] ]

Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce (CUCC) take an important part in promotion of trade and business ties between the two countries. [ [http://www.cucc.ca/section.php?CBID=3282d7b7c4a54159053e54d89134a39c Calendar of events, CUCC] ]

See also

* Ukrainian Canadian
* Canadian Ukrainian
* Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa
* Embassy of Canada in Kiev

References

External links

* [http://www.mfa.gov.ua/canada/en/publication/content/7979.htm Embassy of Ukraine in Canada] - Political Affairs en/Uk icon
* [http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-europa/ukraine/can_Ukr-en.asp Canadian Embassy in Kyiv] - Canada & Ukraine en/fr/Uk icon