At a press conference in Moscow on 26 January 2016, the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, reflecting on the state of Russo-Canadian relations, criticized Canada for its jaundiced attitude and approach toward Russia. In particular, he faulted the government of Stephen Harper for having sided with “rabid representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora” during the Ukraine crisis. Now that a recently elected Liberal government was in place, Lavrov was optimistic relations would improve. No doubt, then, he must have been surprised when Canada’s new Liberal foreign minister, Stéphane Dion, offered a sharp rebuke in parliament, expressing Canada’s earnest support for Ukraine by stating “how much we deeply disagree with the invasion and interference of the Russian government in Ukraine, and how much we will not tolerate from a Russian minister any insults against the community.”

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. At issue in this case is the nature of the Canada-Ukraine relationship, Canadian foreign policy interests, and Ottawa’s relations with a community that appeared to be conspicuously aligned. These subjects inform a long-standing interest of mine and, with Mr. Lavrov’s remarks still ringing in my ears, serve as a foundation and motivation for this book.