By Oleksa PIDLUTSKY, The Day
Last week Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien visited Ukraine.
On the eve of the visit he was kind enough to grant an interview to
The Day on how he views the current status and future perspectives
of Ukrainian-Canadian relations.
Q.: Mr. Prime Minister, why was the projected visit of the Grand
Trade Mission replaced by your official state visit? Does it mean a lack
of Canadian trust in Ukraine?
A.: No, Canada places a high priority on its relations with Ukraine
and I think my visit highlights the importance that we in Canada place
on this relationship. We want to work on strengthening our economic partnership.
This visit is consistent with our original objectives to help Canadian
companies in Ukraine to take advantage of long-term prospects, while encouraging
economic, political, and social reforms in your country.
We believe there is a great deal of potential and Canada looks forward
to an increasingly close and productive relationship with Ukraine. That
goal will be further assisted by continuing progress along the path of
reforms.
Q.: Kyiv greatly appreciates the fact that Ottawa was the first Western
state to recognize Ukraine's independence and sees it as a symbol of special
trust. Perhaps Canada, a country with a large Ukrainian Diaspora, unlike
many other countries, was aware of Ukraine even during Soviet times? What
do you think both Kyiv and Ottawa could do to make the relations between
the two countries even closer?
A.: Canada was very aware indeed of Ukraine during Soviet times,
thanks to its million citizens of Ukrainian descent, who maintain a strong
interest in the country of their ancestors. They have helped to sensitize
Canadians to the value of good political and commercial ties with Ukraine.
As for closer relations, on the economic front, a key factor in improving
relations with our two countries will be continuing market reforms. So
far, progress on economic transformation has been less than we might have
hoped for. The conditions in Ukraine for foreign and domestic investors
are far from ideal. As countries open up to foreign trade and investment,
transparency of economic reforms is vital to the growth of future investments.
Politically, Canada looks forward to further dialogue and cooperation
with Ukraine on key international issues such as protecting human rights,
sustainable development, and the removal of anti-personnel mines. Cooperation
on these issues will further develop our relationship and allow us to work
together in the interests of global peace and security.
Q.: A program document of the Canadian International Development
Agency says: "the continuing success of Ukraine depends on its own actions".
Could you name Ukraine's recent achievements, those that it can be proud
of, from the point of view of the West?
A: Canada recognizes - and is favourably impressed - by Ukraine's
emergence from a very difficult historical legacy and its achievements
in consolidating its independence and nationhood. Many important steps
have been taken in the development of Ukraine's democracy: a new constitution
has been adopted and free elections have taken place, to name but two.
We realize that Ukraine will need to undertake more reforms if this
democratic evolution is to come to full fruition and Canada consistently
voices our support for the reform efforts in Ukraine.
Q.: Canadian Minister for International Cooperation and Minister
responsible for the Francophone issues, Diane Marleau, during her visit
to Kyiv last March said: "It is impossible to render assistance if everything
is done to make it impossible to do so." Does Canada often come across
such problems during talks with Ukrainian leaders?
A.: The Minister was referring to the difficulties in Ukraine's
moving forward with economic reform. We are particularly worried by the
slow pace of economic reform. Once reform is well underway, international
assistance and national and foreign investment will materialize.
For example, the lack of an enabling environment for business remains
the largest obstacle to private sector development with the result that
the majority of economic activity is connected with the informal economy.
Donors are encouraging Ukraine to undertake tax reform and other concrete
measures to make the private sector more viable.
There has been significant privatization, as well as trade liberalization,
but more needs to be done to support entrepreneurship. For example, credit
is difficult to access for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs although
efforts are being made to make additional funds available in this area.
Q.: Do Canadian Ukrainians truly play an important role in the political
and economic life of your country? Who in Canada could Ukrainians in Ukraine
be proud of among their ethnic brothers?
A.: There are many famous Canadians of Ukrainian descent who
have made a remarkable contribution to Canada. Notable in the arts are:
sculptor Leo Mol; the late painter William Kurelek; painter Peter Shostak;
Theatre Director Taras Shipowick; Walter Klymkiw, Conductor of the Winnipeg
Choir; and best-selling author Myrna Kostash.
In the area of government service, we find the late J. B. Rudnyckij,
member of the Bilingualism & Biculturalisn Commission; the late constitutional
lawyer Walter Tarnopolski; the late Supreme Court Justice John Sopinka;
former Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn; the late Senator Paul Yuzyk; and
former Deputy Prime Minister Don Mazankowski.
At least five Members of Parliament in the present House of Commons
are of Ukrainian descent: Wait Lastewka, Lou Sekora, John Soloman, Judy
Wasylycia-Leis and Jim Pankiw. The Canadian Senate also includes A. Raynell
Andreychuk and David Tkachuk, who are of Ukrainian descent.
Q.: The proportion of recent immigrants from Ukraine to Canada is
significantly lower than the percentage of Canadian Ukrainians in the population
of your country. Does it mean that Ottawa sees Ukrainians at large as less
acceptable than representatives of other countries? Does it have any connection
to the so-called "Russian Mafia"? What are the main points of the new Canadian
immigration law which is to be issued soon? Is it really impossible to
make the existing visa regime between our two countries more liberal?
A.: Canada's immigration policy is universal in nature. This
means that there is no quota or restriction on the number of immigrants
of any nationality accepted by Canada. All applicants of all nationalities
are assessed against the same criteria, and those who qualify are issued
visas.
The number of visas issued has no relation to the number of Ukrainian-Canadians
in Canada, or to any alleged Russian Mafia. Applications are assessed on
a case-by-case basis, and only the qualifications and admissibility of
the individual applicants have any bearing on the application's acceptance
or refusal. In fact, the number of immigrant visas issued to Ukrainian
citizens has more than doubled over the past five years, from 1135 in 1994
to over 2400 in 1998.
At this time, there is no consideration being given to waiving the visitor
visa requirement for Ukrainian citizens.
Q.: There are certain similarities between the problems of the Crimea
in Ukraine and Quebec in Canada. Do you think that the Canadian experience
in this issue could be useful for Ukraine and vice versa?
A.: Superficially there may seem to be similarities between the
situation of Quebec in Canada and of Crimea in Ukraine. However, closer
comparison reveals that there are major historical, legal and constitutional
differences between the two cases. Every situation is unique and solutions
are also unique. Canada is, however, willing to share its experience in
managing diversity with countries that are interested.








