Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Observers

Canadian Election Observers Dept: Harper told the observers, many of whom are Ukrainian-Canadian, the mission is important because of Canada's close ties with the country through more than a century of immigration and because of the importance of ensuring Ukraine continues on a democratic path, according to CBC. He recalled his own visit to Ukraine two years ago and his visit to a museum in a former Communist-era prison where Ukrainians were detained and tortured by Stalin's secret police. He said the museum's own director who was present at the send-off event in Gatineau, Que., on Friday had been harassed by Ukraine's modern-day "secret police." Prime Minister Stephen Harper made pointed references to Ukraine's current and past political struggles as he spoke to a team of Canadian election observers set to monitor elections in the eastern European nation. "This election is pivotal for Ukraine," Harper said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.