I stand today to recognize that it has been one year since the horrific Russian invasion of Ukraine. As a nation, we must continue to support Ukrainians as they struggle for peace, freedom and democracy. They have shown the world incredible bravery and resilience as they face unimaginable challenges. I stand today to honour them and the thousands of people who have lost their lives and loved ones to this selfish act of terrorism. In my own community of Oakville North–Burlington, I’ve heard so many tragic stories about displaced Ukrainian families. I stand today for them, for the pain they’ve had to endure, and yet I remain humbled by the remarkable resilience and strength of the human spirit.

At a Christmas celebration with the families at St. Volodymyr’s Ukrainian church, Father Jaroslav told me that Ontario has provided a sense of community and safety that was desperately needed amidst the horrors of the war in Ukraine.

I’m proud of the work we have done by welcoming refugees and providing them with health care, emergency housing, education and other assistance like mental health supports.

We will not waver in our commitment to the people of Ukraine. We will continue to provide them with the support they need to rebuild their lives. We stand with Ukraine.

Let us never forget that the freedom and dignity of every human being is a fundamental right that must be protected at all costs.

Slava Ukraini.

Applause.

I would like to welcome to Queen’s Park this week Mark Kaluski. He’s my executive director. He’s also of Ukrainian origin, and I’m grateful for his support this week.

I stand today on behalf of the leader of the official opposition and the Ontario NDP caucus along with the entire House to solemnly mark the first anniversary of the brutal escalation by the Putin regime’s long, bloody, nine-year invasion of Ukraine, a peaceful and democratic country. It has led to hundreds of thou-sands of innocent lives lost, millions displaced and the destruction of homes, communities, entire cities. We cannot turn a blind eye to the blatant violations of international law and of human rights.

New Democrats and all Canadians stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and we will continue to do so. We will provide aid to the people of Ukraine and work together to bring an end to the war.

Canada is home to a large number of people of Ukrainian descent. Canadians have always stood with Ukraine and Ukrainians to help them in their struggle to change their country from a repressive, corrupt, colonial subset of a large, autocratic empire to a free, open and democratic state. When the war escalated and waves of Ukrainians were fleeing, people and countries around the world mobilized to provide support. I remember the solidarity rally at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. The square was packed with people, and the Ukrainian flag was flying proudly at city hall. Toronto stood in solidarity, and that solidarity was felt strongly.

As legislators, we were all eager to do our part. MPPs from all parties were vocal in our support for the people of Ukraine. Several of my colleagues from the government side and I met at the Polish consulate with both the consuls general of Ukraine and Poland to learn more and figure out what we could do and how we could offer support.

I spoke to the then Minister of Health and Deputy Premier and urged that Ontario drop the three-month waiting period for Ukrainian refugees who were coming to Ontario, so that they could get immediate medical support, especially for children escaping the war. This was echoed by my colleague the member from London West in this House as well, and the province did follow through with that, and also provided funding for various programs for Ukrainian refugees. That was the right thing to do, and we commend the government for that.

In my conversations with members of the Ukrainian Canadian community, they are urging for continued support and action from the province, particularly funding resettlement agencies to provide services for help with integration, language assessment and ESL classes; funding for job training and apprenticeships in areas where skilled workers are needed; funding incentives for new-comers to move to northern and rural areas; fast-tracking Ukrainian nurses and doctors to help them with registration and certification; and allowing Ukrainian students on CUAET visas wanting to attend college or university to qualify for domestic fees and not international student fees. These are some of the steps that we in the province can and should take.

Speaker, all levels of government were hands-on and involved in various efforts. I do want to also mention the school boards and the schools, who were very quick to support the kids coming into Ontario and transition them into our public school system.

One of the things that moved me greatly and showed the deep support for the people of Ukraine was how everyday Ontarians were going the extra mile and acted to be a part of the various efforts to support Ukraine. I want to share some examples that happened in my community of Parkdale–High Park. A solidarity march was put together in September 2022 by the Ukrainian festival organizers in Bloor West Village. The Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society, a non-profit based in my riding, has been working hard around the clock to provide settlement assistance to refugees; so has Romero House. Small businesses like Shakey’s in Bloor West Village and Noctua in the Junction showed their support by raising funds for various Ukrainian aid organizations. The Rotary Club of Parkdale-High Park-Humber recently hosted an event at the Roncesvalles United Church to help raise money to clear landmines in Ukraine.

These are just some examples in my community, but there are so many examples in communities across Ontario. The people of Ontario continue to stand with the people of Ukraine, and must do so.

Speaker, all people have the right to freedom and self-determination. The Ukrainian people want dignity over subjugation. The Ukrainian people want peace. Ukraine shall overcome. Ukraine will prevail.

One year ago, people across Ukraine were launched into a panic, having to flee their country and experiencing a type of terror that is difficult to even put into words. Their country was at war.

As Russian tanks began rolling into Ukraine, the rest of the world watched in horror. Sanctions and other actions were tried by many governments, including ours in Canada. With bravery and courage that surpasses their size, Ukraine’s military has held its ground, reclaiming control and fending off Russian attempts to advance in the east, where battles are continuing to this day.

What has struck me throughout the past year is the resilience of Ukrainian people. It has always become clear through times of extreme crisis the ability for humans to form connections and create community despite tragic circumstances.

Last year, Canada and Ukraine forged a connection of their own. The Canada Ukraine Foundation and Ukrainian Canadian Congress established a partnership, the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal and joint Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief Committee, the UHRC, to efficiently and cost-effectively deliver crucial humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and Ukrainians displaced to their neighbouring countries by war. This alliance represents the essential collaboration both our countries are strengthened by. Around the globe, Ukrainian flags were placed in windows, donations were made and regular people took a stand against the tyranny of the Russian government. In my own riding of Beaches–East York, I saw selfless displays of hope, compassion and humanity.

One of my residents, Kosta Demirov, came to Canada as a Bulgarian refugee in 1990. Knowing first-hand the hardships and struggles newcomers displaced by war face, Kosta, a conscientious developer who created a purpose-built rental building so needed in our riding and every corner of the city and country, took a widely avoided risk in the developer world and offered Ukrainians new to Toronto a place to call home in his seven-story building on Main Street at Kingston Road. He now rents 28 units—over 40% of the whole building—to Ukrainian families new to Canada. It is people like Kosta who fill us with hope in these difficult times.

Sunflowers have long been a beloved symbol of Ukrainian national identity. Maybe you’ve seen the video of a Ukrainian woman in the southern port city of Henichesk giving sunflower seeds to armed Russian soldiers, saying “Take these seeds so sunflowers grow here when you die.”

Following the sunflower movement, my own team and I crafted the initiative Sunflowers for Peace, handing out sunflower seeds at the door and across our riding. Watching the sunflowers grow became a symbol of optimism and reminded us of Ukraine’s bravery.

Another amazing Beaches-East York resident, Ron Wilford, made and distributed blue and yellow ribbons for Ukrainians at many rallies across Toronto, where he advocated for peace and had meaningful conversations with fellow attendees with and without Ukrainian heritage roots.

Ukrainians are fighting for democracy, independence and the future of our world as we know it. In times of war, a country can only achieve their goals effectively through the influence of leadership. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stepped up and has led with integrity and honour. He emulates the bravery and determination of Ukrainians. His country’s admirable resilience to not succumb to the downfall of war demonstrates the meaning behind nationhood. Through his efforts and leadership, he continually projects the spirit of his nation for freedom.

The meaning of victory comes in different shapes and sizes. We should all be doing our part to assist in supporting and building awareness in any way we can. On this journey to justice, it is important that there are leaders like President Zelenskyy. I recognize his strong and brave leadership that I am hopeful will lead Ukraine to peace and healing. He is a role model for all of us in this room and beyond.

Yesterday I visited the exhibit The Year of Resilience presented by our Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. I was so struck by the people, structures and landscapes portrayed: A group of teens posing for a yearbook photo in a bombed-out building, a teacher with a bloody face in an apartment complex, a father making a heart gesture as his wife and daughter went by in an evacuation train car—faces and scenes that are universally compelling and all tell a strong story of mental and physical fortitude.

I encourage everyone to experience the exhibition, a year-long, pointed chronological story and descriptive words and photographs—a testament to what we already know, and a way to give us all perspective. We are all inherently compassionate and empathetic, and above all, resilient. Resilience is a process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioural flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands. The demands of this war are immeasurable, and we owe it to this beautiful country to bear witness to it.

The exhibit is at Queen’s Park until Friday, when it will move to city hall. The residents of Toronto and visitors to our city can see a mere sample of the enormous tragedy and hardships that have occurred, but also to be reminded of the resilience Ukraine demonstrates, the ability for endurance and the promise of recovery and for the future.

Today, my heart is heavy knowing thousands have lost their lives to this violent war and over 14 million have been displaced from their homes, but we will never give up hope. I see a future where Ukrainians rebuild and return to their country without fear, knowing their strength and resilience was a shining example to the rest of the world and myself, and all Ontarians included. Slava Ukraini.

Applause.