About Bill C-306
On September 29, 2016 MP Kerry Diotte (Edmonton Griesbach) has introduced his Private Members’ Bill (PMB) in the House of Commons. The bill is titled “An Act to establish a Crimean Tatar Deportation (“Sürgünlik”) Memorial Day and to recognize the mass deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944 as an act of genocide.”
The Canadian Association of Crimean Tatars has fully endorsed the bill and called on other to support it. To date a number of Ukrainian Canadian organizations, including the League of Ukrainian Canadians (LUC), the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women (LUCW), the International Council in Support of Ukraine (ICSU) and others have expressed their support for the Bill.
Bill C-306 was also supported by the two most prominent Crimean Tatars who represent Crimean Tatars in the Parliament of Ukraine, MP Refat Chubarov, who currently serves as the Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, and MP Mustafa Jemilev, famous Soviet dissident and the leader of the Crimean Tatar National Movement.
If passed, this Act will recognize the mass deportations of Crimean Tatars in 1944 by the Soviet regime as genocide and establish May 18 as a day of commemoration.
Why Support Bill C-306?
On May 18, 1944 Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin has deported more than 280,000 Crimean Tatars to Siberia and Central Asia. According to 1960s surveys conducted by Crimean Tatar activists, more than 109,956 (46.2%) Crimean Tatars of the 280,000 deportees died between July 1, 1944 and January 1, 1947 because of starvation and disease. From May to November 1944 10,105 Crimean Tatars died of starvation in Uzbekistan (9% of those deported to the Uzbek SSR). Nearly 30,000 (20%) died in exile during the first year and a half according to the Soviet secret police data. As Soviet dissident information attests, many Crimean Tatars were forced to work in large-scale projects implemented by the Soviet GULAG system. It was a true genocide perpetrated against Crimean Tatars.
How can you help?
The Canadian Association of Crimean Tatars has prepared a sample letter, which you can use to communicate with your local MP and express your support for Bill C-306. Please download the attachment, add your full name and address as well as your MP’s name and riding. A letter to MP is FREE of postage (i.e. you don’t need to buy a stamp to send a letter to MP). You may also send the signed letter electronically to your MP’s office.
To find your MP, please click here.
To open and download a sample letter to MP, please click here.
More Links
MP Kerry Diotte begins the debate in the House of Commons on his Private Members’ Bill, Bill C-306
MP James Bezan speaks in support of Bill C-306 in the House of Commons
Most recent endorsements of Bill C-306
Стаття в Українській Правді: “Чи визнає Канада геноцид кримських татар?”
Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group endorses Bill C-306