Ukrainian election

Yesterday, I felt triumphant over what I saw as a political victory. The ruling party in my province went from a high of 74 seats to 61, with 12 of those seats going to the parties I believe best represent my views.

Today I feel grateful.

I read about Ukraine and I watch the clips on the news, and I feel grateful. I am admittedly far too oblivious to the rest of world sometimes but this has truly captured my attention. Perhaps it is the close ties my community has to Ukraine. Nearly 10 percent of Alberta's population can claim Ukrainian ancestors, giving Alberta the largest Ukrainian population in Western Canada.

The presidential election in Ukraine has been marred by accusations of irregularities, vote rigging and fraud. Protestors have filled Kiev's Independence Square and created a tent city. Violence seems not far away.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, known to be pro-Russian, has been declared the winner by the Central Election Commission. The opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, who is pro-Western, is said to have received 46.61% of votes to Yanukovych's 49.46%. But exit polls, financed in part by the US Embassy and other Western countries, found that Yushchenko was leading by 54% to 43%.

Yushchenko has said he is willing to hold another run-off vote, if the Central Election commission is comprised of different people, but he has also called for a nation-wide general strike. I truly hope the government agrees to another vote, but just can't see it. How will democracy survive in Ukraine without another vote? Even if Yanukovych agrees to an investigation of the election, it will always be suspect.

Russia is supporting Yanukovych and has declared the pro-Yushchenko protests to be illegal. The US has rejected the election results and is calling for a full review. Will this become an international tug of war?

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And in other news - I heard last night that Lt-Governor Lois Hole is now in palliative Care. My prayers are with her and her family as Lois Hole is a very special woman. I once had the honour of meeting her when she was Chancellor of the University of Alberta. She was at my graduation ceremony and shook so many hands as they crossed the stage. Somehow, she made me feel special in those seconds she held my hand, as if she was personally proud of my accomplishment. I have never forgotten that.