(UkrNews) - The President of the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko (UCFTS) and National Vice President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), Andrew Hladyshevsky beat retired bureaucrat Ellen Schoek for the Liberal nomination in Edmonton Strathcona Dec. 5, 2005.
Hladyshevsky won by about 100 votes out the 540 cast.
"Join with me in providing a strong Alberta voice at the table of good government and together, not only will we achieve a better life for the people of Edmonton Strathcona, but together mould an even more compassionate Canada -- an even more robust Canada -- a country that my children and your children can be proud of," said Hladyshevsky, as his supporters, wearing red scarves emblazoned with the word "Yes", reminiscent of the oranges scarves worn by Yushchenko supporters in last year's Orange Revolution in Ukraine, cheered and waved placards reading "Andy".
Demonstrations for both candidates were brief and muted and the entire meeting was run with strict adherence to the rules.
When Hladyshevsky announced his bid for the nomination seven months earlier, he told Ukrainian News there are four major issues on the federal level which affect the Ukrainian Canadian community. These are: Denaturalization and Deportation (D & D), Internment Redress, Immigration-related issues and Canada's Relations with Ukraine.
Referring to D & D, Hladyshevsky said:
"The spectre of Canadian citizens of Ukrainian heritage who have been in this country for over 50 years, have led exemplary lives, who have been exonerated of any criminal activity� for them, at this stage, to be put in the position that they may be deported is absolutely unacceptable to our community. It's absolutely unacceptable to someone like myself who believes in due process (of law)."
"No candidate who claims to represent our community can run unless they're prepared to fight the community's issues on that point," he added.
Hladyshevsky said the Internment issue is more than just acknowledgement of what occurred, but a matter of pride for the community, allowing Canadians to know their own history.
This affects all people in minority positions, he noted.
Hladyshevsky said insufficient numbers of Ukrainians are allowed to immigrate to Canada. If this was changed it would go a long way to alleviating Canada's labour shortage.
"Our fellow Canadians need intelligent, well-schooled articulate East Europeans and people from Ukraine that will give assistance for Canada to grow and to develop as a nation."
On relations with Ukraine, Hladyshevsky said the Prime Minister noted during a December, 2004 meeting with the UCC that Ukraine is a key strategic priority for Canada, and his job as MP would be to "make sure that Canada remains true to that promise and that what was said in 2004 remains true in the future."
Aside from his position at the UCFTS and UCC, Hladyshevsky has also served as President of the Ukrainian Professional & Business Club of Edmonton, been a member of both the Edmonton Ukrainian Male Chorus and the Dnipro Chorus (the latter for 24 years), is a Founding Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Advisory Council Member of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, Board Member and Chairman of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Edmonton Concert Hall Foundation and a past Director of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.