Petition to Save Ukrainian Programming on CBC Radio Intl: UCC Communique

UCC Denounces CBC's Decision to Disband RCI's Ukrainian Section

March 27, 2009 -- The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) calls upon CBC Radio Canada International (RCI) to overturn their decision to permanently shutdown the Ukrainian Section of RCI effective this week after 57 years of service to Canada.

"We understand that the Ukrainian Section of RCI is the only foreign language department to be terminated," stated Paul Grod, UCC National President. "Such a decision is unconscionable and is out of line with the Government of Canada's commitment to Ukraine as one of its top strategic bilateral partner countries."

Canadians should write to:

Hubert T. Lacroix
President and CEO
CBC/Radio-Canada
1400 René-Lévesque Boulevard East
P.O. Box 6000
Montréal, QC H3C 3A8

EMAIL: ht.lacroix@cbc.ca

encouraging him to reconsider the decision to permanently shutdown the Ukrainian Section of RCI and find ways to increase its resources due to its strategic importance to Canada.

We encourage you to sign the online petition here http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ucc/.

UCC's letter to CBC President Hubert T. Lacroix can also be viewed at: http://ucc.ca/media_releases/2009-03-26_2/index.htm.

We also encourage Canadians to express their concerns to:

The Hon. Lawrence Cannon, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs CannoL@parl.gc.ca

The Hon. James Moore, MP, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages MooreJ@parl.gc.ca

The Hon. Bev Oda, MP, Minister of International Cooperation OdaB@parl.gc.ca

The Hon. Vic Toews, MP, President of the Treasury Board ToewsV@parl.gc.ca

The Hon. Stockwell Day, MP, Minister of International Trade DayS@parl.gc.ca

The Hon. Jason Kenney, MP, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism KenneJ@parl.gc.ca

The Hon. Michael Ignatieff, MP, Leader of the Official Opposition IgnatM@parl.gc.ca

Hon. Jack Layton, MP, Leader of the New Democratic Party LaytoJ@parl.gc.ca

Mr. Gilles Duceppe, MP, Leader of the Bloc Québécois DucepG@parl.gc.ca

Ms. Joy Smith, MP, Chair, Canada Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group SmithJ@parl.gc.ca