Deputy Premier and Canora Pelly MLA Ken Krawetz is leading a Saskatchewan delegation to Ukraine until October 3. The delegation, comprised of members of the Saskatchewan-Ukraine Relations Advisory Committee, will build on the work undertaken by Krawetz on his initial visit to Ukraine in 2008 and the recommendations made by the committee in their report to government.
"Saskatchewan and Ukraine have collaborated on a number of projects that have been mutually beneficial over the last 33 years," Krawetz says.
"I am looking forward to exploring opportunities and building greater capacity for further collaboration, based on the good work of the committee."
The report, presented to government in March, contains the committee's views and comments concerning the on-going relations between Saskatchewan and Ukraine as well as emerging opportunities and political circumstances in both jurisdictions.
On Monday, September 27, Krawetz met with the Canadian Ambassador and representatives from the National Bank of Ukraine.
The delegation then participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the Holodomor Monument in remembrance of the famine that killed millions from 1932-33. Krawetz was then to meet with the Vice-Prime Minister, Deputy Minister of Justice and the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy. Discussions will focus on the committee's recommendations for increased cooperation in the areas of agriculture, energy, finance, justice, education and innovation.
On Thursday, Provincial Secretary and Education Minister Donna Harpauer will join the delegation for meetings with the Head of Chernivsti Oblast Government, the Head of Chernivsti Ministry of Education and Sciences and officials from the Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University before meeting with students from two high schools in the region.
The Saskatchewan-Ukraine Relations Advisory Committee is a community-based committee initially appointed by the provincial government in 1993 to provide advice on government and private sector activities in Saskatchewan and Ukraine. They also monitor and make recommendations on the progress of the 1995 Saskatchewan-Ukraine Mem-orandum of Co-operation. The committee's term runs until February 24, 2012.
For more information on the committee, or to view their report, visit: www.ops.gov.sk.ca.
