Regional council takes a stand on Russia
Councillors vote unanimously to sanction themselves in a voluntary move to support Ukraine as it battles a Russian invasion
/https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/content/dam/niagaradailies/uploads/Sawchuk_Bill.JPG)
Niagara Region councillors voted unanimously to sanction themselves in a voluntary move to support Ukraine as it battles the Russian invasion.
Council passed Wainfleet Mayor Kevin Gibson’s motion to send correspondence to the consulate general of the Russian Federation with the names of the regional councillors who have indicated their support to be voluntarily sanctioned, resulting in their “indefinite” ban from entering Russia.
Russia has put numerous members of Parliament and other Canadians in leadership positions at various organizations on a “stop list” or “black list” of foreigners that will be denied entry to the Russian Federation because Canada supports Ukraine.
Regional councillors would be voluntarily joining those who have been sanctioned.
“I would like to ask you to be thoughtful and purposeful before you ask to have your name placed on that list,” Gibson said. “You’re not going to stop in Russia for the rest of your life. If your plane gets diverted to Russia, you may have some difficulties. So please consider it carefully. I spoke with my family. We talked about it, and I decided that I was going to do this regardless.”
Councillors have until the end of the business day on May 30 to tell the clerk whether they want to be included on the list.
Irene Newton, Ukrainian Canadian Congress Ukrainian Branch, said the move is symbolic support for Ukrainians.
“I will call it a genocide, because that is what it is at this point,” Newton said. “It is not just a war. It is to try to annihilate the entire country, the people, the land, and grab what they can. I would love to put myself on that sanction list.”
Newton said her more significant concern is what Niagarans can do for the people fleeing and who are coming into Canada now. She said the refugees were coming to large cities such as Toronto, but Niagara also saw an increase in those heading here.
“I have had more and more in the last two weeks than I can handle,” Newton said. “We are literally jumping from one load to another, trying to find housing, trying to find accommodations. I can pretty much find jobs for most of them, but I cannot find a place for them to live right now. So trying to get housing is crucial for us right now.”
West Lincoln Dave Bylsma eventually supported Gibson’s motion but didn’t like the word “unjustifiable invasion” and asked Gibson if he wanted to remove it. The Wainfleet mayor responded with a terse, “I do not.”
Bylsma said he couldn’t be sure the invasion was “unjustifiable” because it was an adjective, and he didn’t know if the media is slanting the coverage.
“If we just say we denounce Russia’s invasion, I would be much more comfortable,” Bylsma said. “I don’t always know if it is unjustifiable or if it was an act of defence.”
St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik followed Bylsma, saying it was an absolutely unjustifiable invasion of a sovereign nation of Ukraine.
“I want to thank Mayor Gibson for bringing this forward,” Sendzik said. “While some may think that this doesn’t mean a lot, I can honestly tell you from my friends and family of Ukrainian descent that this means a considerable amount. Slava Ukraini.”
Saleh Waziruddin of the Communist Party of Canada said the resolution would do nothing to hurt the Russian government or to hold back the war destruction in Ukraine.
“Other than Niagara Falls, those in the Russian government have probably never even heard of the other 11 municipalities in Niagara,” Waziruddin said. “It’s a completely meaningless sacrifice.”
“What this resolution does do is it needlessly escalate tensions. The horrible situation in Ukraine needs to be resolved through a political settlement and peacefully. Escalating this war through pointless performances is ultimately irresponsible and very dangerous.”
No comments:
Post a Comment