On January 28 and 29, 2025, the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Montreal, Eugene Czolij, participated in the Annual Days of Heads of Consular Posts organized by the Government of Quebec in Quebec City.
During these days, the Heads of consular posts from various countries meet with the Premier and ministers of the Government of Quebec, as well as with leading figures of Quebec industry, who present their vision and plans for the future.
This year, were present the Premier of Quebec François Legault, the Minister of International Relations and Francophonie and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Martine Biron, the Minister of Immigration, Francisation and Integration Jean-François Roberge, the Minister of Public Security François Bonnardel, the Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy Christine Frechette and a Member of the National Assembly and Government Assistant to the Minister of Tourism Amélie Dionne, as well as representatives of Hydro-Québec, Canada’s largest electricity producer, and Propulsion Québec, an agency to promote the development of electric transportation.
During this event, the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Montreal, Eugene Czolij, emphasized that, at this time of political changes in many countries (including the inauguration of the new U.S. President on January 20, elections in the German Bundestag on February 23, the election of the new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada on March 9 and afterwards Parliamentary elections in Canada and Presidential elections in Poland on May 18), it is very important for Quebec to defend human rights and our fundamental principles, including the territorial integrity of all states, inclusive of Ukraine.
Eugene Czolij also raised the issue of the dangers of disinformation that the Kremlin actively uses to destabilize and weaken the international community and informed the Minister of Public Security that, at the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Benjamin Ziff, stated during his testimony before the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in 2015, that the Kremlin sponsors efforts of disinformation with a sophisticated propaganda apparatus of about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars per year.
Subsequently, the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Montreal discussed with the Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy that Quebec could help European countries reduce their dependence on Russian energy.
In addition, since the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Montreal met with the Premier of Quebec, François Legault, on November 11, 2024 with a request to extend the public health insurance coverage for Ukrainians temporarily displaced in Quebec, which was slated to expire in March 2025, and that on December 15, 2024 the office of the Minister of Health announced that the public health insurance coverage for Ukrainian refugees will be extended until March 31, 2028, Eugene Czolij thanked the Premier of Quebec for this decision. He also called on the Premier of Quebec to emphasize that Ukraine has the absolute right to protect its territorial integrity and that it is in the best interests of the West that Ukraine succeeds in protecting its territorial integrity because this will be the best guarantee of peace and stability in the world.
Eugene Czolij and the Premier of Quebec François Legault;
The Premier of Quebec François Legault and the Heads of Consular Posts in Quebec (photo: Émilie Nadeau);
Eugene Czolij and the Minister of International Relations and Francophonie and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Martine Biron;
The Minister of Public Security François Bonnardel and Eugene Czolij;
Eugene Czolij and the Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy Christine Fréchette;
The Minister Responsible for Social Solidarity and Community Action Chantal Rouleau and Eugene Czolij.
HONORARY CONSULATE OF UKRAINE IN MONTREAL
Comentarios