GOVERNMENT RECEIVES FINAL REPORT OF THE SASKATCHEWAN-UKRAINE RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Deputy Premier Ken Krawetz acknowledges receipt of the final report of the Saskatchewan-Ukraine Relation Advisory Committee.

"The Ukrainian community has been an integral contributor to our growth and culture for more than a century," Krawetz said. "The committee has not only helped to increase cultural awareness and strengthen our existing partnerships with Ukraine, but it has also helped us to identify actions that will grow our relationship in the future. I want to thank them most sincerely for their work."

The report contains recommendations based on the findings of working groups formed by the committee to identify long and short-term actions for the ongoing relations between Saskatchewan and Ukraine, as well as emerging opportunities.

Over the course of their three-year term, the committee has met with more than 18 individuals or groups representing various federal and provincial organizations, industry and academic groups. They have also met with community groups in areas including Yorkton, Regina, Saskatoon and North Battleford. Several members of the committee participated in the 2011 Mission to the Ukraine with Krawetz.

Key areas included reviewing the current context of the Memorandums of Co-operation and Intent between Saskatchewan and Ukraine as well as education, justice, agriculture, energy and environment, health and immigration.

There are approximately 130,000 Saskatchewan residents who are reportedly of Ukrainian descent. In 2011-12, Ukraine was ranked 5th in terms of Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) source countries for nominations and for immigrant landings and arrivals in 2011 as well.

Created in 1993, the community-based committee provides advice on government and private sector activities in Saskatchewan and Ukraine. It also monitors and make recommendations on the progress of the 1995 Saskatchewan-Ukraine Memorandum of Co-operation. The current committee was appointed in March 2009 and delivered its first report in March 2010. It has fulfilled its term and completed its mandate and a renewed committee will be named in the coming weeks.

The committee's report is available at www.ops.gov.sk.ca/ukraine.

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For more information, contact:

Nicole Fellinger
Provincial Secretary
Regina
Phone: 307-787-2687
Email: nicole.fellinger@gov.sk.ca