On April 2, 2008 MP Joy Smith, Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group, applauded Prime Minister Stephen Harper as he expressed Canada’s strong support for Ukraine to move towards membership in the NATO alliance. Prime Minister Harper urged other leaders to support Ukraine’s request to join NATO’s Membership Action Plan.

“As the Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group, I am delighted to hear the Prime Minister’s support for Ukraine’s membership as a full participant of NATO,” said MP Joy Smith. “The Ukrainian people have pursued greater freedom, democracy and prosperity. I believe Canada must do everything in its power to help Ukraine realize these aspirations, including backing its bid for NATO membership.”

Canada has been a strong and consistent supporter of NATO enlargement. Ukraine has made great progress on democratization and in opening up its economy in recent years. Bringing Ukraine into the alliance would accelerate the pace of democratic reform and economic development.

Last December, Joy Smith, Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul, was elected Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group. The aim of the group is to provide a structure for the exchange of visits, information and ideas between Canadian parliamentarians and prominent representatives from Ukraine.

MP Joy Smith has served on the Executive Committee of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group since being elected in 2004 and travelled to Ukraine during the historic Orange Revolution in 2004, to volunteer as an elections monitor.

Canada, with over 1,100,000 Canadians of Ukrainian descent, has a longstanding and special relationship with Ukraine, which is enhanced through Parliamentary Friendship Group activities.