The National Assembly expressed with one voice on Wednesday all its sympathy for the Ukrainian people, who are under threat from Russia.
Quebec elected officials unanimously adopted a motion of support and solidarity proposed by the member of Quebec solidaire for Laurier-Dorion, Andrés Fontecilla.
The motion invited the National Assembly to affirm “its solidarity with the Ukrainian people, as well as with the very numerous diaspora present in Quebec, and in particular in Montreal”.
Quebec has no less than 40,000 people of Ukrainian origin.
She also invited him to support “the right of the Ukrainian people to live in a peaceful, prosperous and sovereign country”, and to express “his wish for a peaceful resolution based on negotiation”.
Before going to the vote on the motion, a deputy from each political formation was invited to take the floor in order to express himself on the strong tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
Former journalist-turned-Liberal MP Paule Robitaille said she witnessed Ukraine gaining independence in 1991. “It was the release of an immense weight,” she recalled.
Today, “the capital, Kiev, is vibrant with energy, connected to the world. […] There, I see everything that is happening and then I say to myself, well, for how long? she wondered.
The parliamentary leader of the Parti Québécois, Joël Arseneau, stressed that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict was reaching its climax.
“He will necessarily have to find a denouement, but diplomatic channels are necessary to achieve this. It must be done in accordance with international law,” he insisted.
Mr Fontecilla went further on Wednesday, calling for a “massive” reduction in military budgets everywhere. “Our actions should never be belligerent,” he said.
“Canada, and Quebec, must be an actor for peace and not throw oil on the fire, rush into a militarist one-upmanship. This is the role we should play.”
A copy of the motion was sent on Wednesday to the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, the Consul General of Ukraine, as well as the Consul General of the Russian Federation.
In a position that seemed to contrast with that of MP Fontecilla, the Minister of International Relations, Nadine Girault, declared: “We will spare nothing, no effort, in order to preserve the sovereignty of Ukraine.”
The minister did not specify whether Quebec intended to send any material or financial support to Ukraine, other than to say that it offered “all its cooperation” to Ottawa.
“We are all outraged by the extreme provocations and violations of international law that have been perpetrated. It is with force that we condemn them,” she said.
The day before, Prime Minister François Legault had declared that he strongly supported the decision of the federal government of Justin Trudeau to impose economic sanctions on Russia.