“Canada has been actively engaged since the start of the crisis in supporting the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus and a peaceful resolution to the current political situation,” Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneu said in a statement on Sunday. “We will continue to advocate for a genuine and inclusive national dialogue to ensure that the future of Belarus reflects the will of its citizens.”
Andrey Dashkov, director and chair of the board of the Vancouver chapter of iHelpBelarus.org, a pro-democracy non-profit, said his organization is looking forward to working with the federal government to make sure that the funding is “used for a maximum positive effect.”