It’s fairly accurate to state that people of Estonian background do not constitute a statistically significant influencer in any elections be it federal, provincial or municipal. In fact it’s been noted that electors with ancestral roots in all three Baltic countries don’t even as a total, form a swing vote in any electoral district. That’s why, presenting issues of common concern A crucial case in point was Canada’s steadfast adherence to the policy of the non-recognition, de jure, of the Soviet annexation of the Baltic States. It would have been convenient for Canada to officially recognize Soviet rule in the Baltics and thereby gain Moscow’s favour. It was a basic principle involved, not our collective vote to be curried. Changes in the Canadian cabinet arouse our interest because of the personalities involved and the proclivities they bring to their positions of authority. Some observations: Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: gained experience from six years as chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade and is intimately familiar with Canada’s priorities externally. What focus and orientation he will bring to central and east Europe, specifically the Baltic States and their complicated relations with Moscow, is unclear. His involvement however, as a parliamentarian in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe does not make him a novice in this area. His studies in the Spanish language (he was in Mexico learning Spanish when the Prime Minister summoned him to cabinet) indicate an interest in Latin and South America. To date, through Andre Oulette’s, Lloyd Axworthy’s and John Manley’s tenures, Canada has expressed support for the most wide enlargement of NATO. The decision is to be made at the Alliance’s summit this fall in Prague. Mr. Graham’s personal stance as foreign minister will be evident soon. Gar Knutson, Secretary of State, Eastern and Central Europe and the Middle East: holding a junior cabinet post and representing a London riding, Mr. Knutson was formerly Parliamentary Secretary to the P.M. Foreign affairs policy has always been the domain of more senior cabinet members. What his input will be in trade and investment matters with the Baltic republics and security issues in the region is yet to be seen. In any case, unresolved conflicts in the Middle East overshadow the perceived relative stability of central and eastern Europe. Susan Whelan, Secretary of State for International Co-operation: formerly Chair of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and Director of the Canada–United States Interparliamentary Group, she, as a junior minister, oversees the Canadian International Development Agency. CIDA authorizes and supervises Canada’s technical foreign aid programs including those in the Baltic States and intends to terminate its activities there in a few years. Estonia’s development is perceived to be advanced enough to be the first to warrant this. Denis Coderre, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration: Formerly Secretary of State for Amateur Sport, Mr. Coderre takes over a ministry with which Canadians of Estonian heritage have a few ongoing issues. One is the seemingly uneven treatment of visa applications from Estonia whereby certain people are denied visitor visas. Some who are rejected have obviously abundant reasons for returning to Estonia during the proscribed time — having provable assets in real estate, family ties, job committments, etc., while others in the absence of these ties are approved. The other involves a recent trend in handling “Nazi war criminal” cases. Since Canadian criminal courts have in recent years failed to convict those accused of these crimes, due to the rigorous scrutiny applied to evidence in criminal proceedings, further actions have been brought under denaturalization and deportation civil processes. Individuals are accused of misrepresentation, specifically, falsifying Canadian visa applications over 50 years ago when asked about their activities during WWII. The onus is on the accused to prove that he/she did not serve in unacceptable German units, did not falsify information, and prosecutorial evidence does not have to meet the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standards of criminal courts. People who have been implicated do not have a reasonable chance to prove their innocence. Important policy decisions reside within cabinet and the P.M.’s office, and are rarely left to the disposition of individual ministers. However, the submissions we make as a community are still presented to specific ministers whose understanding of the issues involved have a bearing on how these concerns are handled. Time will tell. LAAS LEIVAT

Archived Articles

TRENDING