Election 2006 is critically important for the future of Canada. It is about our sovereignty as a nation, our responsibility to the world, and the legacy we leave our children. It is also about the fragility of our democracy and no one knows this better than Ukrainian Canadians. It was one year ago that we stood in solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their struggle for democracy.

It is hard to believe that a whole year has passed since we witnessed history in the making as hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Ukraine to overturn a fraudulent election and demand a free and open process for voting. Yet the lessons of the Orange Revolution remain with us and demand our attention. The first, of course, is the need to exercise our right to vote and to remember we have strength in numbers. Voter participation is already at an all time low and we cannot let it drop further.

The Orange Revolution also reminds us about our responsibility to the world, something we cannot do if the federal government does not get its own house in order. Our credibility on the world stage requires action to overcome corruption and cronyism in government. The values of integrity and honesty are fundamental to any notion of civil society and responsible government, making ethics and human rights central issues in this election.

Canada's international reputation has been tarnished not only by less than adequate levels of foreign aid but also by government inaction here at home on matters of human rights, immigration, and multiculturalism. Ukrainian Canadians, in particular, have much to be concerned about having seen little evidence that outstanding grievances are being taken seriously. The following are some of those issues along with positions taken by the NDP.

o Righting Past Wrongs: Liberals continue to deny proper recognition of the Internment of Ukrainian Canadians during World War I. The NDP has long called for such action and gladly supported Bill C-331, the Ukrainian Canadian Restitution Act. Also outstanding is official recognition by the Canadian government of the Ukrainian famine as an act of genocide. It is my hope that a motion similar to the one I have repeatedly introduced in the House will finally receive all-party support in the next Parliament. This would see the fourth Saturday in November of every year designated as a day of remembrance for the more than 7 million Ukrainians who fell victim to the Ukrainian famine/genocide of 1932-33, and would have materials developed for inclusion in curriculum for educational purposes.

o Citizenship Revocation: The NDP has long denounced the Liberal policy of denaturalization and deportation. NDP spokesperson, Bill Siksay actively participated in the Committee review of citizenship revocation and, on behalf of the NDP, supported the recommendations to ensure due process and charter application. Most importantly, the committee recommended that the process for revoking citizenship be exclusively a judicial one with provision for the right to appeal a finding of the court of false representation or fraud or knowingly concealing material.

o Immigration: After 12 years of Liberal government, immigration rates are down, there are huge back-logs, and families are being kept apart. The system works against immigrants from countries like Ukraine where hard-working, enterprising individuals are denied entry because of the new point system with an over-emphasis on high education, language skills, and extensive experience. It is a betrayal of Ukrainian Canadian pioneers like my grandparents who came with little education and no possessions but helped build this country with their blood, sweat, and tears. It is for this reason that the NDP opposed the new grid and proposed 80 amendments to Bill C-11. We continue to call for changes to the point system recommending points for adaptability, settling in smaller centres, cultural community support, and family reunification. We have also long called for an expanded definition of family class and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sponsor relatives now not included. Finally, we support the Immigration Committee's recommendations for temporary resident visas to ensure the urgent expedition of refusals by taking a permissive rather than restrictive approach while giving appropriate attention to security and health issues.

It is time to look to the future with the confidence that a bold new open immigration strategy would bring -- a strategy that would appeal to potential immigrants on the basis of their total needs by strengthening family reunification, building on the presence of strong ethnocultural communities like Ukrainian Canadians, and upholding the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as fundamental to our multicultural environment.