Peter Goldring consults with former Canadian ambassador to Ukraine

Ottawa – The week after arriving back in Ottawa following a three-year posting as Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Daniel Caron came to Parliament Hill to brief Peter Goldring on the current situation in Ukraine.

Mr. Goldring is Member of Parliament for Edmonton East, vice-chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Group and a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

The two men discussed the current state of Canada-Ukraine relations and how the apparently politically motivated arrest, trial and incarceration of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is affecting those relations.

“What is happening in Ukraine is of interest to the more than 1.2 million Canadians with roots in that country,” Mr. Goldring said. “Canada and Ukraine are tied by history and immigration. Ukraine is an important trading partner for Canada. Therefore it is only logical that we discuss any concerns we might have about issues that could affect the relationship between our two countries.

At Mr. Goldring’s instigation the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development will be undertaking a study on the progression of rights and democracy over the past 10 years in Ukraine.