Ukraine champion Scott Anderson MP sworn into the Canadian Federal Parliament

The people of Ukraine are honoured that today Mr Scott Anderson MP was sworn into the Canadian Federal Parliament as the representative for the riding of Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee. From 2017 to 2019, Mr Anderson was the leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia.

Mr Anderson, a retired officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, is a vocal supporter of Ukraine against the Russian aggression and he has visited the front line in the Russia-Ukraine conflict to see for himself the ruin and carnage that the Russian invaders have inflicted across the east and south of the country, all the way from Kupiansk to Kherson and almost every front line settlement of substance in between. Mr Anderson has been in personal proximity to live fire and has experienced the daily terror that civilians experience, and the conditions in which the heroic Ukrainian Armed Forces have to operate. In multiple discussions with this newspaper, he has made it clear that:

• Defending Ukraine against the Russian invasion is a global strategic imperative for the NATO alliance, to defend the international principles of state sovereignty in Europe and across the world.

  
  

• The suffering of civilians both in towns along the front line and in Ukraine's major cities, as a result of Russia's relentless bombardment of known civilian structures, is enormous and the civilised world needs to stand up to Russia and the war crimes being committed in Russia's name.

  
  

• The wanton destruction of Ukraine's cities and cultural monuments, and the constant reign of terror created by Russian military tactics that defy all the rules and norms of war, is horrifying and an international disgrace.

  
  

• The Ukrainian Armed Forces are doing incredible and admirable work defending their territory against the Russian invaders, using superior technology and command and control structures in the face of a numerically superior enemy.

  
  

• The front line in Ukraine is the boundary of western civilisation as we know it, beyond which lies only the totalitarian dominance of the Russian government, with the suppression of civil liberties and democratic structures, and economic ruin.

  
  

• The West needs to build up its own armed forces across Europe and elsewhere in the NATO architecture, to continue support for Ukraine for as long as it takes until sufficient economic and military pressure is exerted on the Russian government to withdraw; or until the Russian economy and political system collapses.

Russia has become an international menace threatening the entire global order, placing the sovereignty of nations at risk and undermining the principle of the sanctity of internationally recognised borders. We applaud Mr Anderson for his principled stance, for his courage and determination in visiting the front line in Ukraine to learn for himself the situation for military and civilians alike, and for his commitment to supporting the Ukrainian cause during his tenure in elected office.

Congratulations to Scott Anderson MP, a true friend of Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!