UCC President: Canada’s government has not acted strongly enough against Russian subversion

The Canadian government has not done enough to stop the ongoing, insidious, and destructive disinformation attacks by Russia on the Ukrainian community and democratic institutions in the country, said Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), during Canadian parliamentary hearings in the House of Commons.

Hearings at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) took place on Oct. 2 and pressing issues were discussed. 

They were convened in response to a federal court indictment in the United States that uncovered the involvement of Canadian companies and individuals in a conspiracy to spread disinformation with Russian propagandists, including staff from the Kremlin-funded RT (formerly Russia Today).

“The Ukrainian Canadian community has been the target of Soviet and now Russian disinformation for many decades,” stated Chyczij. “The Canadian government has not acted forcefully enough to counter these persistent, insidious and destabilizing Russian attacks on our community or Canadian democratic institutions.”

Chyczij said that the lack of accountability for Russian subversive activities creates a culture of impunity in Canada.

“One of the reasons [why Canada still is a haven for Russian operatives – ed.] is that some Canadian politicians, foreign policy advisers, and staff in global affairs hold a naive view of Russia and the threat it poses to Canada and our democratic institutions,” she said.

During her speech, the UCC President outlined recommendations from the Ukrainian community in Canada regarding the necessary actions that the government must take to counter Russian meddling and disinformation campaigns in the country.