I’d like to welcome, on behalf of the government of Ontario, on behalf of all of the MPPs here at Queen’s Park, Oleksandr Shevchenko, the consul general of Ukraine; Alicia Markson, representing the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Toronto branch, Stand with Ukraine committee; Teresa Lubinski from the Toronto Catholic District School Board—she’s a trustee in ward 4—as well as Luba Slavatynska, Ukrainian Canadian Congress Ontario Provincial Council. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The arrogance and duplicity of Putin’s attempt to overthrow a democratically elected government to replace it with one of his own choosing cannot go unchallenged. We will not turn a blind eye to the horrors of seeing cities, homes and hospitals bombarded by Russian artillery and the attempt to destroy Ukraine’s power grid and leave people to freeze in the winter cold. Putin’s reckless bombardment near Chernobyl threatened to unleash another nuclear disaster on Ukraine, Europe and the entire world, and we will never forget the mass graves of murdered civilians in Bucha, Mariupol and Izyum; the shelling of civilians; the relocation and deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. For all these reasons, Mr. Speaker, Ontario and Canada have joined the rest of the world in condemning this aggression and demanding an end to the illegal Russian invasion.

All this was shocking, but sadly, not surprising. Almost a decade ago, in February 2014, Putin ordered the invasion and annexation of Crimea. But it wasn’t enough for him, Mr. Speaker. He moved next into the Donbas region, but he wasn’t satisfied with that either. As history has so often shown, an aggressor is never satisfied. No matter the misery he inflicts on others, no matter the cost he inflicts on his own people, Putin will not stop until and unless someone stops him.

Speaker, this is happening today in the heart of Europe. War is not far away, but a modern-day reality. We can imagine, as President Zelenskyy called on us to imagine, this happening to us, and how we would need help from our friends to aid in our resistance. He called on us to imagine the CN Tower, not far from here, under bombardment; Vancouver under siege; our power grids destroyed. He called on us to imagine the bombing and shelling of our airports, our schools and our hospitals—even our very homes.

In Ukraine, in Kyiv and Mariupol and many other once peaceful cities, these things are happening night and day. As Ukraine bravely re-establishes control of their land, we are learning the full extent of Russian atrocities: the torture facilities, the mass graves, the real genocidal intent of Putin’s war. We can’t look away. This is the face of the Russian occupation: towns and cities turned into mass graves. There must be justice.

As President Zelenskyy said, Putin seeks “to destroy our future, to destroy our nation, our character.” This is the practical modern-day history of Ukraine. This is why Ukraine must fight and why we must stand with them.

Speaker, I think many were surprised by the astounding bravery of Ukraine’s resistance. We watched in awe when President Zelenskyy said he needed ammo, not a ride, and Ukraine mounted a historic defence against the invasion. The Ukrainian military and Ukrainian people rallied behind his leadership, but we feared that, despite their courage, the outcome of the war would be swift, tragic and unavoidable. Few predicted not only the bravery that Ukrainians have shown, but their valour and their success. They defended their capital and drove the Russian army back. They pushed back the invaders on multiple fronts, and today, a year after the war began, after a year of battle, sacrifice and heroism, they continue struggling to free their homeland.

Countries around the world have rallied to support Ukraine, Canada among them. Canada and other nations have imposed strong sanctions on Russia, Russian companies and Russian officials responsible for the illegal invasion. Ukrainians have been provided with weapons, ammunition and other support. In fact, I’m proud that vehicles manufactured right here in Ontario are on the front lines. Roshel, which I had the pleasure of visiting, has delivered more than 200 armoured vehicles to Ukraine and plans to deliver 1,000 by the end of this year. Canada has also donated 39 light armoured vehicles from GDLS Canada, based in London.

Our province’s manufacturing expertise is making a real contribution to Ukraine’s defence. But they have fought alone, defending their freedom and their democracy, and defending freedom and democracy against aggression for all of us. And they fight on.

As a consequence of Putin’s brutal invasion, many Ukrainians have had to flee. Over eight million refugees have been displaced by this war of aggression. Ontario has become the refuge for more of those fleeing the invasion than any other province in Canada. Our province has now welcomed more than 60,000 displaced Ukrainians with open arms. Ontario will continue to work in partnership with the federal government, across our government, with businesses, unions, municipalities and with community organizations to ensure those coming here to Ontario have access to supports they need to start a new life here.

Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we’re doing everything we can to help those fleeing the war and arriving at our door, whether temporarily or to make Ontario their new home. Last spring, we announced supports, including a dedicated job-search hotline, access to health care, emergency income assistance for those in need, free kindergarten-to-grade-12 education, access to child care and more.

My ministry has also provided $4.4 million to help new arrivals with settlement, language training services, housing supports, employment services and mental health supports. These supports are helping to make sure Ukrainians arriving in Ontario have access to the programs and services they need to start a new life here. To date, more than 3,700 Ukrainian newcomers have access to our Employment Ontario services; of those, more than 1,200 have found employment so far.

Not only our government but, as I said, community organizations, union partners, employers and people across the province have come together to support those fleeing the invasion. Ontario stands proudly with the people of Ukraine. We will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine. Canada is home to 1.3 million people of Ukrainian origin, the third largest Ukrainian population in the entire world. Our countries are bound by the ties of friendship and family bonds that unify us. We will help those who have come to our shores to find sanctuary and rebuild their lives. We stand by those who fight to free Ukraine from Putin’s illegal invasion and to restore their freedom and sovereignty.

If Putin thinks the world will look away, if he thinks the world will soon forget, he has gravely miscalculated. We have seen, if he thinks Ukrainians will give up, if he thinks he can defeat them, he is utterly wrong. If he thinks he can erase an independent Ukrainian nation and a free Ukrainian people, we have seen that they will never, ever permit that to happen. We have seen the valour and bravery of Ukrainians defending their land and their homes. Ukraine must and will prevail. As President Zelenskyy said, “We want to live. We want to have peace.”

We must continue to support them in their struggle until that dream is achieved. Glory to Ukraine. Slava Ukraini.