1 July 2014

As a Ukrainian-Canadian living in London, U.K., on today this 'Canada Day', I feel compelled to comment on the Canadian government's unwaivering support for Poroshenko's new Ukrainian government, Stephen Harper, Canada's Prime Minister, has condemned Putin's actions in Ukraine and in many ways has been a leader of the calling for recognition of Ukraine's territorial integrity. His actions, many times in solitary, have been applauded by Ukrainians and Ukrainian-Canadians.

I find it troubling to admit this as a positive action on Stephen Harper's part, because Harper is simultaneously waging an economic and environmental war in Canada, against the people he is charged with leading and implicitly protecting. Harper is ignoring the fate of Indigenous peoples' living in dire poverty as well as in environments that are being destroyed for the purpose of resource extraction (see Idle No More). Canada has been experiencing relentless cuts to social programmes, health care, community-based projects, the arts. Harper undermines the justice system, is chiseling away at the power of the Supreme Court of Canada, and limits the freedom of the press. But more specifically in terms of Canadian financial ties with Russia, that effectively undermine Harper's vocal anti-Putin stance, as just one example, a Toronto-listed oil company, Pacific Rubiales, confirmed (reported 11 April)  a deal to build a pipeline in Colombia to export liquefied natural gas, with a contract to supply Russia’s Gazprom for five years from 2015. Toronto-listed does not mean that this is a Canadian company per se, but nevertheless this is good for Canadian economic growth. When it comes down to it, isn't this what almost all governments are racing for? People and their struggles, revolutions and deaths, matter little--whether in Maidan or protesting pipeline development in Colombia. 

Yet Harper knows that the Ukrainian diasporic community is strong throughout Canada--strong in terms of population numbers and political, as well as electoral, power. He has heeded their calls to take a stance in support of the Maidan protests and people's movement since winter of 2013. Now has continued to respond to this community to condemn the actions of the government of the Russian Federation in Crimea and now in Eastern Ukraine. This is a positive thing: international attention and leaders are needed to continue to bring attention to the ongoing struggle for peace, democracy and a responsible, accountable government in Ukraine. 

But how is Harper wielding this support? How is his stance being played out now? In a speech in May, Harper said Canada and the West countries played their pro-freedom role during the Cold War, and he singled out former Canadian prime minister, Brian Mulroney, along with ex-British PM, Margaret Thatcher, and former U.S. president, Ronald Reagan. He is encouraging the West to return now, and do the same in a 'fight against communism'. Using this political posturing, referring back to the Cold War and neoliberalism as the victor against communism, is misguided at best, and destructive and harmful at worst.

By returning to Cold War rhetoric, Harper undermines the struggle that brought people out to Maidan for the winter months. This was not an ideological fight against 'communism'. In fact, Putin represents nothing but the very repressive, corrupt, dictatorial rule that people in Maidan died to overthrow. 

It is important to note as well that EU nations, most notably France and Germany, have been hypocritical in encouraging Ukraine's reformers while doing little that directly impedes Putin. Trade with Russia has barely been affected by this 'crisis', because of the economic impact this would have in the EU and North America. Governments and their leaders are not prepared to sacrifice their economic priorities for the sake of people's lives in Ukraine, Crimea and Russia (and around the world). Some lives matter less.