Used City of Toronto vehicles to be sent to Ukraine for humanitarian use. Photo by CBC.
The City of Toronto is planning to donate five more used vehicles to Ukraine for emergency humanitarian use.
A motion for the vehicle donation was presented by Mayor Olivia Chow and will be heard by the City’s Executive Committee this month.
Council has requested agencies as the TTC, Police Services Board and Paramedic Services to consider the donation of surplus or end-of-life vehicles to the Ukraine government for humanitarian purposes.
The City is also planning to donate three generators to help the war-torn country, which is under attack from Russia.
One of our used firetrucks, as this, is among five end-of-life vehicles destined for Ukraine.
City officials last June donated seven vehicles over the course of 2022 and 2023 to help the ailing country.
“As we mark the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the City of Toronto can provide additional support to the Ukrainian government and our Friendship City, Kyiv, for humanitarian purposes,” according to the Mayor’s motion.
The Consul-General of Ukraine in Toronto Oleksandr Shevchenko made the request for assistance during a recent meeting with City officials.
“The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is very thankful that the City of Toronto is donating vehicles to help in humanitarian efforts to aid Ukraine in its time of need while Russia continues to bomb its cities,” UCC President Peter Schturyn said then.
Vehicles in Ukraine demolished by Russian bombs, soon Toronto vehicles will join the fight. Photo Macleans.ca
The five vehicles will be donated later this year and would be used to respond to emergency humanitarian situations in Ukraine.
“Since 1991, Toronto and Kyiv have been friendship cities, remaining in close contact, and celebrating our 30th anniversary of friendship in 2021,” the motion stated.
The donated vehicles were equipped with operational lights, sirens and basic first aid supplies. They ended up at medical centres in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, which has undergone many challenges of Russia’s constant shelling during the last months.
The Canada Ukraine Foundation is expected to cover the cost of shipping the vehicles to Ukraine through its medical equipment program.