News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

---

PRIME MINISTER HARPER CONGRATULATES FORMER PRIME MINISTER BRIAN MULRONEY ON AWARD AT UKRAINIAN TRIBUTE DINNER

April 18, 2007
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper celebrated the historic ties between Canada and Ukraine at a tribute dinner for the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, hosted by the Ukrainian Embassy and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

"No western country has closer ties to Ukraine than Canada," Prime Minister Harper said. "A century ago, when settlers from all over the world were arriving into the Canadian prairies, Ukrainians were one of the largest immigrant groups. There are over a million Canadians of Ukrainian heritage today, and they have made their mark in every part of Canada, in every field of endeavour."

Prime Minister Harper applauded Ukraine President Victor Yushchenko for awarding the Order of King Yaroslav the Wise to Mr. Mulroney. The award recognizes the former Prime Minister's role in supporting Ukraine's Declaration of Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and in fostering positive Canada-Ukraine relations.

"Under Mr. Mulroney's leadership Canada was the first country to recognize Ukrainian independence. Our country stood with the brave people of Ukraine, of the Baltic republics and the other captive nations of central and eastern Europe," Prime Minister Harper said. "Today they are free people living in free nations. And they are grateful to the strong western leaders who stood firm against the Communists and their apologists.

"Ukrainians can rest assured," the Prime Minister concluded, "that Canada's New Government will continue to support Ukraine's right to determine her own destiny."

---

The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login)]

News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

---

PRIME MINISTER HARPER ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO APPOINT ALBERTA SENATOR-IN-WAITING BERT BROWN

April 18, 2007
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that in keeping with the principles of Bill C-43, the proposed law that would enable Canadians to vote for Senators, Canada's New Government intends to appoint Alberta Senator-in-waiting Bert Brown to replace retiring Alberta Senator Dan Hays.

"The retirement of Senator Hays, after nearly a quarter-century of service to Canada, creates the first opportunity for our government to appoint a Senator who has been endorsed by Canadian voters," Prime Minister Harper said. "No Canadian has done as much to advance the cause of Senate reform as Bert Brown. He has been a tireless advocate for democratization of the Upper House for over two decades. He ran in three Alberta Senate elections and is the only Canadian to be elected twice as a Senator-in-waiting. In short, he is a perfect role model for elected Senators, and today's announcement demonstrates that our Government is serious about moving forward on Senate reform."

Mr. Brown, 69, is a Calgary-area zoning and property development consultant. Over 300,000 Albertans voted for him in the province's 2004 Senate election, when he ran under the banner of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party.

Prime Minister Harper reiterated that his government's long-term goal is to see all Canadian Senators elected. "I call on the Opposition parties to join us in democratizing the Red Chamber by passing Bill C-43," the Prime Minister said. "Canadians recognize that the time is long overdue for the Senate to attain democratic legitimacy."

---

The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login)]

Notice

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

---

Public events for April 18, 2007

April 18, 2007
Ottawa, Ontario

Public events for Prime Minister Stephen Harper for today, Wednesday, April 18th are:

7:00 p.m. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper will attend the reception and dinner hosted by the Ukrainian Embassy and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in honour of the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, and deliver brief remarks. The Prime Minister will speak at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Ballroom
Fairmont Château Laurier
1 Rideau Street
Ottawa, ON
K1N 8S7

*Photo opportunity only*

---

The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login)]