MPs debated Ukraine violence in House of Commons

Canadian MPs held an emergency debate Monday nighton the crisis in Ukraine,where protests are being met by aviolent response from the government.

The debate went until midnight, with MPs from all parties essentially united in condemning the Ukrainian government's actions.

House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheerordered the debateMonday following a request from Conservative MPs Ted Opitz and James Bezan.

OppositionMPs were also calling for a debate.

Parliament only reconvened from its Christmas break Monday, making Mondaynight the first practical opportunity for debate.

As Canadian MPs were discussingwhat more the Canadian government could do, negotiations in Ukraine were underway that saw the prime minister resign Tuesday and the Ukrainian parliament vote to repeal its contentious anti-protest law.

MPspass motion condemning Ukraine government

Earlier Monday,MPsvoted to pass a motion condemning the Ukrainian government for its actionsand ananti-protest law deemed by observers to be anti-democratic.

• Read text of the motion here
• Ukraine repeals anti-protest laws after PM resigns
• Ukraine protesters leave Justice Ministry building
• Divided Ukraine roiled by protest, love-hate with 'Mother Russia'

The motion declareddraconian a lawadopted in Ukraine on Jan. 17that severely limits the right of Ukrainians to peacefully protest. It also condemnedthe killing and injuring of protesters in Ukraineandurged the Canadiangovernment to consider sanctions against Ukrainian leaders.

The call for the consideration of sanctions echoeslanguage proposed byNDPMPsand in a statement made by Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau Monday.

Trudeau said some Ukrainianofficialshave committed human rights abuses and crimes against their own citizenry.

The Canadian government has an obligation to work with its allies and immediately apply pressure on the Ukrainian government to negotiate with the opposition," Trudeau said in a statement.

"This indefensible, state-sanctioned violence must be condemned and should end immediately. Unless real dialogue begins between the government and the opposition, we are likely to see more senseless deaths."

Harper addresses violence

In question period Monday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper pledged to work with Ukrainian Canadians and Canada's allies to"encourage the government of Ukraine to move in a positive direction."

"This governmenthas been very outspokenwith many around theinternational community in condemning some of the actions of the Ukrainian government," Harper said, in response to a question from NDP Leader Tom Mulcair.

"We are very concerned that these actions speak of not moving towards a freeand democraticEuro-Atlantic future, but an anti-democratic Sovietpast.

"The government is signalling its strong desire to play a positive role and we encourage them in that regard," he said.

Battle lines in place

Outside the House, Mulcairappeared to praise the government's efforts so far, and offered his party's support for more.

Mulcairsuggested the conflict in Kyivrepresented a battle line that had been anticipated by some sincethe fall of the Berlin Wall.

"We've always suspected there wouldcome one casewhere the pull to the East and the pull to theWest would come to one determining battle. Thatis taking placein the streets of Ukraine right now," Mulcair said."Ukraine needs and deserves our support."

Canadahas demonstrated its concern over the Ukrainian situation by using more than just words.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird was pictured in the middle of a throng of protesters in Kyivin December and just last week he promised his government was considering all options.

The government's religious freedom ambassador,Andrew Bennett, was dispatched to Ukraine and yesterday reported his concern for members of the minority Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Bennett also condemned the actions of the Ukrainian government.

The new laws passed by President ViktorYanukovych give the Ukrainian government, police and security services harsh new powers that severely limit individual rights and freedoms, said Bennett. This is fundamentally inconsistent with democratic practice and of grave concern to all who are committed to a free and democratic Ukraine."

But in question period Monday, Liberal Deputy Leader Ralph Goodale urged the government to move "beyond general statements about considering options."

Goodale suggested the government could send observers and offer expedited visas to protesters in urgent need of sanctuary from the abuses of the Ukrainian government.