Yvan Baker

Mr. Speaker, “Love for All, Hatred for None” is the motto of our Ahmadi community here in Canada. This is not simply an ideal. This is an action that the community practises every day. Its commitment to service, compassion and interfaith dialogue continues to make a positive impact in communities across our country. Recently I had the honour to attend the international peace symposium hosted by His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the caliph and worldwide leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. The peace symposium brought together leaders from around the world to discuss actions to achieve peace, dialogue, justice and mutual understanding in an increasingly uncertain and dangerous world. I also had the distinct honour to have a personal meeting with His Holiness, the Caliph, during which we discussed a range of challenges that all Canadians are facing every day. I sincerely thank the community for inviting me, for its service to Canada and, most importantly, for not only preaching the words “Love for All, Hatred for None” but practising them.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, entitled “Report on the Quota of French-language Vocal Music in Canadian Radio Media”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

moved that the bill be read the third time and passed. Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise here to speak to Bill S-210. If passed, this bill will designate September as Ukrainian heritage month in Canada. As the sponsor of this bill in the House, I will give brief remarks today. I will not be using all of my time. The government side will not be putting up any other speakers, and the majority of the parties in the House have agreed not to have MPs speak to this bill today, to ensure that we can have debate collapse today on this bill so debate ends before the time allocated for it comes to a close. Why is this happening? All parties support the passage of this bill. We know that because it has been unanimously supported at second reading and unanimously supported at the heritage committee, and it has come back from the committee to the House without amendments. There is no doubt about that. If the bill continues on a normal schedule, it will likely pass sometime in the fall. Normally, this would be just fine, but former senator Stan Kutcher, who is the Senate sponsor of this bill, and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress have made the request that we expedite the passage of this bill so a final vote on this bill can be held next week. They have done so because the former senator is in poor health. In fact, that is why the former senator resigned his seat in the Senate several weeks ago, because his health did not allow him to continue his work. As the House sponsor, I have spoken with many colleagues about this, on all sides of the House. I want to be clear that I have no personal political interest in seeing this happen. I know that the bill will pass soon. I know it will probably pass in the fall. However, I do have an interest in this on a personal level, as I think all of us in the House do as well. Because the senator is in poor health, I believe it is the compassionate and humane thing to do to set aside the various political considerations we all have all the time and pass this bill while the senator's health allows him to be here to watch it happen. The senator, members of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, who are watching this debate, and I have reached out to all parties over the past few months to ask for help in expediting the passage of this bill for this reason. From my end, I want members to know that I have done what I can as the House sponsor. I have traded up with other MPs so the bill gets debated sooner than it would have been otherwise. Normally, we would be at this stage in the fall. I have spoken with members of the heritage committee to ask for their help in this, and they have helped with this. I thank the heritage committee members for that. I have reached out to all parties in advance of this debate, as has the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, to ask for their help in allowing debate to collapse today. The reason this is important, for those who are not familiar with parliamentary procedure, is that if debate collapses today, the bill can go to a final vote next week and pass. If debate does not collapse today, the bill would probably not get to a final vote until at least the fall. My request to all MPs of all parties is that we allow the debate to collapse today. The majority of the parties have agreed to do what they can to make this happen. I appeal to members of all parties to allow debate to end before the allotted time is complete today so this bill can go to a final vote next week and so that former senator Kutcher can be here to watch it pass. For the benefit of those watching at home who have not followed the debate, I just want to say a few words about the bill. The first Ukrainian immigrants to Canada arrived on September 7, 1891. Since then, generation upon generation of Ukrainians have come to Canada, many of them fleeing oppression and seeking a better life. They found that life here in Canada. Ukrainian Canadians have helped to make Canada the great country it is today, and their contributions span our political, economic and social life, and much more. That is why, for example, in 2011, the Ontario legislature passed a law, unanimously supported by all parties at that time, to declare September 7 Ukrainian Heritage Day in Ontario. At the time, I was president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Ontario Provincial Council, and I was proud to have been one of the people who wrote that bill and helped to get it passed. That is also why I am proud to have introduced my own Ukrainian heritage month legislation in each of the last three Parliaments to do the same thing this bill would do, designate September as Ukrainian heritage month in Canada. Some have asked me why the three bills I introduced have not passed. The reason is that after every election, as all members know, MPs are put into a lottery to determine the order in which their bills come up for debate here in the House. Usually, in a four-year term, I believe about 60 to 80 MPs can have their bills debated and voted on. After each election, I have not been lucky enough to be in the top 80 in that lottery. I have been too far down. This time around, I think I am 218 or so. I have not been able to have a bill I have introduced here come to a vote. I want to be clear that this is not for lack of effort on my part. I have done everything I can to pass it, but it has simply not been possible. In fact, we can all think of examples of this on all sides. We have members here who have been elected for decades and have never had a bill pass. We recently had a member on our side who, after over 20 years in elected office, finally had a bill pass for the first time. That is how hard it is to pass a bill, because of the procedure. The fact that the bill we are debating today was introduced by a senator who was high enough in the order in the Senate, and given that it was passed in the Senate, it was given priority here in the House, is what gives us the opportunity to pass it. I just want folks to understand those dynamics. The reasons to support this bill, I think, are pretty clear. We have debated them before. First, it is an opportunity to celebrate Ukrainian heritage, which we see in our communities and every one of our ridings from coast to coast to coast. Second, it is a national acknowledgement of the people whose contributions have shaped Canada for about 135 years. Third, since 1891, Ukrainian Canadians have come to Canada seeking a better life, and since 1891, Canada has supported them. That is why Canada was the first country in the world to recognize Ukraine's independence in 1991. That is why Canada was among the first countries in the world to recognize the Holodomor as a genocide. That is why our government has been a global leader in supporting the people of Ukraine as they bravely defend themselves against Russia's brutal invasion. I would argue that there has never been a more important time to pass this bill than now. For the past four years, Ukrainians have been defending themselves against that invasion, and Canada has been a global leader in supporting them. I believe there are two key reasons we support the people of Ukraine. The first is that it is the right thing to do. It is the moral thing to do. The second reason is that it is the right thing for Canada. This is because I believe Ukraine's victory is vital to Canada's security. If Russia wins, we know it will not stop at Ukraine. We know this because Vladimir Putin has told us so. He is leading a hybrid war against European countries right now. He has sent drones over military bases in NATO. He has claimed, in the past, parts of the Canadian Arctic as Russian territory. European, French and German military and political leaders are publicly saying that their people have to be ready for a land war with Russia in the next five years. Therefore, Russia's invasion is not just about Ukraine. Ukraine is just the first step in Putin's expansionist ambitions. If Russia succeeds in Ukraine, make no mistake that NATO will be next. That means we will be next. We will be fighting to defend ourselves against Russian aggression, whether in Europe, the Canadian Arctic or somewhere else, so either we pay a small price now to help Ukraine win, or we pay a much bigger price later, in Canadian dollars and in Canadian lives. That is why I believe we have to stand with the Ukrainian people until they win. That is why Canada has been a global leader in supporting Ukraine, with over $25 billion in support since 2022: military, humanitarian, financial and more. Ukraine is fighting on the front lines of the global struggle between democracy and tyranny. Its struggle is our struggle. That is why there has never been a more important time to adopt this bill. This bill honours the past, strengthens the present and inspires the future. Ukrainian heritage month would offer a special opportunity for us to celebrate Ukrainian heritage, the role that Canada has played in supporting Ukrainian Canadians, and the contributions that Ukrainian Canadians have made to Canada. I hope all members of this House will not only support this bill, because I know all members of this House do support it, but join us in allowing debate to collapse today so we can pass it next week, with the former senator watching, and designate each September, including this coming September, as Ukrainian heritage month across Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I will briefly say that the value of having the debate collapse today is that it would ensure that the bill goes to a final vote next week, which would allow it to pass. This would honour former senator Kutcher's health and his request, so he can be here to watch it pass.

moved for leave to introduce Bill C‑283, An Act to establish Somali Heritage Month. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce Bill C‑283, an act respecting Somali Heritage Month. If passed, the bill would declare July of every year Somali heritage month across Canada. I would like to thank the member for York South—Weston—Etobicoke for co-sponsoring the bill with me, and I hope members on all sides of the chamber will support the bill. Canada is home to many Canadians of Somali heritage. They have left and continue to leave an important mark on our country and on communities across the country, and they have touched our economic, social and political life. Somali heritage month would give us an opportunity to celebrate that heritage and the role that Canada has played in supporting Somali Canadians, and to celebrate their contributions to Canada. Every July, it would give some Somali Canadians another reason to celebrate their Canadian pride and another reason to say, “Somalia hanoolaato”. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Mr. Speaker, the members of our committee worked very hard, and now I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, entitled “Proposals from the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages Regarding the Draft Proposed Regulations Under Part VII of the Official Languages Act”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, entitled “Proposals from the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages Regarding the Proposed Official Languages Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations”.

Mr. Speaker, oral health care is health care, and that is why I am so proud that our government launched the Canadian dental care program. For millions of Canadians with a family income under $90,000, it has made life more affordable and provided access to dental care they would not otherwise be able to access. It is also helping to prevent other, more serious health conditions that arise without proper oral care. A key group of people in delivering oral care to Canadians are hygienists. I do not know if you knew this, Mr. Speaker, but April is Oral Health Month, and part of the celebration is National Dental Hygienists Week, which ran from April 4 to April 10. This annual event is sponsored by the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association and is focused on the importance of good oral health practices while underlining the role of the dental hygiene profession in preventing and treating oral health issues. This year's theme of “oral health for total health” reminds us that taking care of our mouth, teeth and gums has a positive impact on other aspects of our life and our health care. Dental hygienists play a critical role in prevention, early intervention, treatment and education in Etobicoke and across Canada. We thank them. Happy Oral Health Month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition that has been signed by over 47,900 Canadians. The signatures come from every province and territory across Canada. The petition concerns individuals who came to Canada under temporary emergency immigration measures, such as the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel and similar programs under which people live and work in Canada on visas. The petitioners note that many of these individuals have lived and worked in Canada for several years, contributing to our communities and economy. At the same time, they cannot return home due to circumstances beyond their control, and they face barriers in accessing permanent residency through existing pathways. The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to consider establishing a dedicated one-time pathway to permanent residency for eligible individuals currently in Canada under these emergency measures. I am pleased to present this petition to the House on behalf of the petitioners.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition that has been signed by over 2,500 Canadians. The petition concerns ethical issues in public life, specifically the impact of disinformation and misinformation in political communications. The petitioners note concerns about the effects of disinformation on public trust and democratic debate, and they reference findings from Canadian security agencies identifying disinformation as a threat to democratic institutions. The petitioners call on the House of Commons to consider measures to strengthen transparency, accountability, digital literacy and coordination across governments in responding to political disinformation.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages with respect to the motion adopted on Thursday, February 5, 2026, regarding the historical interpretation of the events and actions that contributed to the decline of the French language in Canada and in Quebec. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Mr. Speaker, today marks four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian people have been outmanned and outgunned, but they have shown tremendous courage in defending their homeland. Unable to win on the battlefield, Russia has resolved to pursue war crimes, including most recently trying to destroy the power grid to freeze millions of Ukrainians into surrender. They will never surrender, but they need our help. For me, there are two reasons we support Ukraine. The first is that is the right thing to do. It is the moral thing to do. The second reason is that it is the right thing for Canada. If Russia wins, it will not stop at Ukraine, and NATO countries will be next. We know this because Vladimir Putin has told us so. That is why Ukraine's victory is vital to Canada's security. Canada has been a global leader in supporting Ukraine since 2022, with over $25 billion in support. I know that under the Prime Minister's leadership, that support will continue. The Ukrainian people are not only fighting for their own freedom and security; they are also fighting for ours. We need to fight for them until they win, until we all win. Slava Ukraini.

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. That the House: (a) condemn Russia's ongoing, unjustified, full-scale military invasion of Ukraine; (b) call on Russia to cease its hostilities against Ukraine and withdraw to recognized international borders; (c) strongly condemn Russia's deliberate and ongoing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, depriving civilians of heat, electricity and basic services, particularly during the winter months; (d) reaffirm the Government of Canada's unwavering support for Ukraine, its territorial integrity, and independence and sovereignty within internationally recognized borders and territorial waters; (e) affirm Canada's commitment to working toward a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the region; (f) support the establishment of robust and legally binding security guarantees to Ukraine; (g) acknowledge the work of the Government of Canada, provinces, and territories, in assisting those displaced by Russia's ongoing, unjust, invasion of Ukraine; and (h) recognize Canada's leadership at the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and call for all possible efforts to be made to ensure the return of all Ukrainian prisoners of war, illegally detained civilians and children forcibly deported to Russia, and to support efforts to bring to justice those responsible for war crimes before the International Criminal Court.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, entitled “Certificate of Nomination of Kelly Burke to the Position of Commissioner of Official Languages”. The committee recommends the nominee for the position of Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada.

Madam Speaker, I am honoured to rise in the House today to speak to Bill S-210. This legislation, if passed, would declare September of every year Ukrainian heritage month across Canada. I would like to begin by thanking the members who just spoke for sharing their stories. I thank them for supporting this bill. There were members from Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. I thank them. The first Ukrainian immigrants to Canada arrived on September 7, 1891, and Ukrainian Canadians have since then helped to make Canada the great country that it is today. Those contributions span our economic, political, social and cultural life. That is why I was so proud in the last three parliaments to introduce a bill that would declare September Ukrainian heritage month, and that is why I am so proud to sponsor this bill in the House today. Many Canadians are watching this debate at home. Some of them are immigrants to Canada from Ukraine. Some of them are the children and grandchildren of immigrants to Canada from Ukraine. My mother and my grandparents were immigrants to Canada from Ukraine. My grandparents Ivan and Olena came to Canada after World War II, fleeing oppression and seeking a better life, like so many people who have come to Canada over the years from all around the world. They were incredibly proud of their Ukrainian heritage, but they were also incredibly proud to be Canadian. In fact, I have said this many times, and some members have heard me say it, my grandparents were among the proudest Canadians I have ever known. To ensure that I learned about my Ukrainian heritage, my grandparents and my parents insisted I attend Saturday school, where we would learn the Ukrainian language, history, traditions and more. Every Saturday, after Saturday school, my grandfather would pick me up. We would have lunch together, and then he would help me with my Saturday school homework for the following week. Members can imagine that when I was a teenager, when I was a kid, I was not so fond of Saturday school. I was not so fond of doing homework on Saturday afternoons either. One day I was very frustrated, I was struggling, and I said to my grandfather, whom I called Dido, “Dido, I don't want to do this anymore. I want to stop.” He said to me, “Yvan, you cannot stop. Let me tell you why. I'm very proud of my heritage, and I think if you learn more, you will be too.” Then he said, “I want you to learn about the Ukrainian people because so many of them came here to Canada. They came before you did, they came before I did, and they helped to make this country great. I want you to learn about the people who made Canada great.” For 135 years, Canadians of Ukrainian descent have left a historic mark on our country. Their contributions span communities across Ontario and every riding represented here in the House of Commons. Most recently, since 2022, Canadians have generously welcomed approximately 200,000 Ukrainians to Canada who were fleeing the war in Ukraine. Those immigrants to Canada from Ukraine have worked very hard. They have contributed to our communities. They are filling jobs that in many cases cannot be filled by Canadians, and they are making important contributions to Canada. Through the bill before us, Parliament would recognize these contributions over those 135 years. Ukrainian Canadians have contributed to Canada, but Canada has also supported Ukrainian Canadians. Canada was the first western country to recognize Ukraine's independence in 1991 and was among the first countries to recognize the Holodomor as a genocide. Our government has been a global leader in supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia's brutal invasion. To me, there are two key reasons we support the people of Ukraine right now. The first is, of course, because it is the right thing to do. It is the moral thing to do. Ukrainians are defending themselves against a brutal invasion and war crimes every day. The second reason is that it is the right thing for Canada. Ukraine's victory is vital to Canada's security. If Russia wins, it will not stop at Ukraine. We know this because Vladimir Putin has told us so. If Russia wins, if Russia prevails in Ukraine, then Canadians, Americans and Europeans will be next in defending ourselves against Russian aggression, whether that is in Europe, in the Canadian Arctic or somewhere else in the world. That is why Canada is a global leader in supporting Ukraine, and that is why it has never been more important to pass a Ukrainian heritage month bill than it is today. Ukraine's most prolific poet, Taras Shevchenko, once famously said: [Member spoke in Ukrainian and provided the following translation:] Teach, read and learn from others, but be proud of that which is your own. [English] Today I feel the way the people at home feel, the way my parents and grandparents would feel if they were here today, the way generations of Ukrainians who came to Canada would feel if they were here today: proud of their Ukrainian heritage, proud of the contributions Ukrainian Canadians have made to Canada and proud to be Canadian.

moved that Bill S-210, An Act respecting Ukrainian Heritage Month, be read the second time and referred to a committee. Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today in the House to speak to Bill S-210, an act respecting Ukrainian heritage month. The legislation, if passed in the House, would designate the month of September as Ukrainian heritage month in Canada. The first Ukrainian immigrants to Canada arrived on September 7, 1891. Since then, generation upon generation of Ukrainians have come to Canada, many of them fleeing oppression and seeking a better life. Ukrainian Canadians have helped to make Canada the great country that it is today, and their contributions span our economic, political, cultural and social life. That is why, for example, in 2011, the Ontario legislature passed a law, unanimously supported by all parties, to declare September 7 as Ukrainian Heritage Day. When I was president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress's Ontario Provincial Council at the time, I was proud to be one of the people who wrote the bill and helped to get it passed. That is why I am so proud, as their member of Parliament, to have introduced my own bill in the House of Commons in the last three Parliaments to designate the month of September, every year, as Ukrainian heritage month. I would like to thank the member of the other place who introduced the bill and the many members who co-sponsored the bill with me. I hope that members on all sides of the House will support this legislation. Watching the debate at home right now are members and leaders of the Ukrainian Canadian community. Some of them are immigrants to Canada from Ukraine. Some of them are the children and grandchildren of immigrants to Canada from Ukraine. My mother and my grandparents were immigrants to Canada from Ukraine. My grandparents, Ivan and Olena, came to Canada fleeing oppression and seeking a better life, like so many people who have immigrated to Canada from Ukraine over the past almost 135 years. My grandparents were incredibly proud of their Ukrainian heritage, but they were also incredibly proud to be Canadian. In fact, I have said many times, and many here have heard me say this before, that my grandparents were among the proudest Canadians I have ever known. To ensure that I learned about my Ukrainian heritage, my parents and my grandparents insisted that I attend Saturday school. This was not unique to me. This is common to members of the Ukrainian Canadian community. After Saturday school, every Saturday, my grandfather used to pick me up. We used to have lunch together, and then he would help me with my Saturday school homework for the following week. During classes and as I did this homework, I learned the Ukrainian language, culture, history, traditions, etc. I have to tell the House and I have to admit that when I was a teenager and when I was a kid, I was not so fond of Saturday school. I really did not enjoy doing homework on Saturday afternoons either. There was one day in particular when I was very frustrated. I was struggling with whatever it was that I was working on with my grandfather. I called him Dido. I said, “Dido, I do not want to do this anymore. I want to stop.” He said to me, “You cannot stop. Let me tell you why. I am incredibly proud of my heritage and my homeland, and I think that as you learn more, you will be too.” Then, he also said, “I want you to learn about the history of the Ukrainian people, because so many of them came here to Canada. They came before you did, they came before I did, and they helped to make this country great. I want you to learn about the people who made Canada great.” Since 1891, Canadians of Ukrainian descent have left a historic mark on our country. Their contributions span communities from coast to coast to coast, in all the ridings represented here today. They have impacted our economic, political, cultural and social life. The significance of the bill goes beyond just cultural recognition. It is not merely a symbolic gesture that we are undertaking here today. It is a national acknowledgement of people whose contributions have shaped Canada for almost 135 years. Since 1891, Ukrainian Canadians have played an important role in making Canada the great country that it is today, and through the bill, Parliament, among other things, is recognizing these important contributions. Since 1891, Ukrainians have been coming to Canada seeking a better life, and since 1891, Canada has supported them. That is why Canada was the first country in the western world to recognize Ukraine's independence in 1991. That is why Canada was among the first countries in the world to recognize the Holodomor as a genocide. That is why our government has been a global leader in supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia's brutal invasion. We are relentless in our support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Through the bill, Parliament is also recognizing those contributions, the steps that Canada has taken to support the Ukrainian Canadian community and the people of Ukraine. There has never been a more important time to adopt the bill than today. I told a story about my grandfather helping me with my Saturday school homework. Now I want to tell members a story about my grandfather from 1991, when Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union. I was with my Dido Ivan that day, and we were watching the news coverage of what was happening in Ukraine. For context, my grandfather was born in Ukraine and grew up in Ukraine under Soviet occupation. On many occasions, like many of the people who are watching at home, families risked their lives to achieve a free and independent Ukraine, just as the people of Ukraine are doing as we speak. In 1991, we were sitting in his home in Toronto in Bloor West Village. We were watching the news, watching Ukraine declare its independence, which may have been one of the most proud days of his life. At one point in our conversation, my grandfather said now that Ukraine was independent, we had to continue the fight for Ukraine's independence. I think I was 13 or 14 years old at the time, and I said, “Dido, what are you talking about? It is over. This is done. The Ukrainian people want independence. The world has recognized it. It is done." I said, “Dido, you are wrong.” Of course, I was wrong. In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia and the world got it wrong. In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine, first in eastern Ukraine and then Crimea, and the world got it wrong. We cannot afford to get this wrong again. Canada has been a global leader in supporting Ukraine since 2022. I believe that there are two key reasons we need to support Ukraine. The first reason is that it is the right thing to do. It is the moral thing to do. Ukrainian people are bravely fighting back to defend themselves against a brutal invasion and war crimes that are occurring daily, and we see that in the news every day. The other reason is that supporting Ukraine is the right thing for Canada, because Ukraine's victory is vital to Canada's security. If Russia wins, it is not going to stop at Ukraine. We know this because Vladimir Putin has told us so over and over again. Just recently, Vladimir Putin sent Russian drones over European military bases, NATO military bases. In the past, Putin has claimed parts of the Canadian Arctic as Russian territory. European military and political leaders, elected leaders in western Europe, are publicly saying that Europe has to be ready for a full-blown land war with Russia in the coming years. Russia's invasion is not just about Ukraine. Ukraine is just the first step in Russia's expansionist ambitions. If Russia succeeds in Ukraine, it is not going to stop there. Canadians, Americans and Europeans will be next. We will be defending ourselves against Russian aggression, whether that is with our NATO partners in Europe, in the Canadian Arctic or somewhere else in the world. We either pay a smaller price now to help Ukraine win, or we pay a much larger price later, in Canadian dollars and in Canadian lives. That is why we must stand with the Ukrainian people now until they win. As I said, the government has been a global leader in supporting Ukraine. Since 2022, Canada has committed over $22 billion in support for Ukraine. I want to highlight some of the types of aid that Canada has provided. Canada has provided $6.5 billion in military assistance alone. This includes a range of things, including air defence missiles, howitzers, Leopard 2 tanks, drones, armoured vehicles and other critical equipment. Canada's military training mission, Operation Unifier, has trained over 44,000 Ukrainian soldiers and over 300 Canadian Armed Forces members remain deployed on this mission. Canada has also committed $389 million to train Ukrainian fighter pilots for the F-16 jets that have been contributed by allies, and more than $140 million to support Ukraine's domestic drone production. That is military aid alone. On the financial side, Canada has provided over $12.6 billion in direct financial assistance. Canada is the largest contributor of financial support to Ukraine, direct or multilateral, per capita in the world. This includes almost $7 billion in loans through the IMF, $500 million in direct bilateral loans and an over $5-billion contribution to the G7's new extraordinary revenue acceleration loans for Ukraine. Canada has also played a leadership role in strengthening Ukraine's economy and long-term resilience, including the modernization and parliamentary ratification here in this Parliament of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, which many members here voted in support of. Since 2022, Canada has sanctioned nearly 2,300 people and more than 1,000 entities in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. In total, almost 4,900 individuals and entities are currently sanctioned under Canada's autonomous sanction laws. Ukraine is fighting on the front lines of the global struggle between democracy and tyranny. Its struggle is our struggle. That is why we must support the Ukrainian people until we win. That is why Canada is a global leader in supporting Ukraine. Coming back to the legislation before us, this bill honours the past, strengthens the present and inspires the future. Ukrainian heritage month will offer a special opportunity for us to celebrate Ukrainian heritage, the role that Canada has played in supporting Ukrainian Canadians and the contributions that Ukrainian Canadians have made to Canada. This is not just a symbolic gesture. It is a concrete, enduring recognition of a community that has shaped this country and continues to do so every day, in every riding represented here by members of the House of Commons. For me, as I mentioned earlier, as a descendant of Ukrainian immigrants and Ukrainian Canadians, this legislation has a personal element, but it is profoundly national. By passing Bill S-210, Parliament will be affirming that Ukrainian Canadians are integral to Canada, that their heritage deserves celebration and that Canada stands with the Ukrainian people, not only in wartime but all the time. I urge all members of the House to support Bill S-210 and to join me in designating each September as Ukrainian heritage month in Canada. I want to finish with some words from Ukraine's most prolific poet, Taras Shevchenko, who once famously said the following. [Member spoke in Ukrainian] [English] Translated, this means “teach, read and learn from others but always be proud of that which is your own”. Today, I feel what my grandparents would feel, what a lot of the people watching at home feel, what their parents and their grandparents would feel and what generations of Ukrainian Canadians who have come to Canada for almost 135 years would feel if they were here today, proud of the contributions that Ukrainian Canadians have made to Canada since 1891, proud of their Ukrainian heritage and proud to be Canadian.