Canada continues to pile on sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, while Ottawa continues to work with allies to isolate Moscow. The latest moves include trade actions against Russia and more lethal aid for Ukraine.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday that Canada would continue to be there for Ukraine. He joined other nations in calling for Russia’s suspension from Interpol.
Canada also became the first country to revoke trading status as most favored nations for Russia and Belarus.
“This means that Russia and Belarus will no longer receive the benefit, particularly low tariffs, that Canada offers to other countries that are fellow members of the WTO," said Canada’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, Chrystia Freeland. "Instead, Russia and Belarus will be subject to a tariff of 35% on their exports to Canada. The only other country that does not enjoy MFN status with Canada is North Korea.”
Freeland also said more Russian oil and energy executives have been sanctioned, bringing the total number of those sanctioned or in the process of being sanctioned since the 2014 occupation of Crimea to more than 1,000.
In addition Defence Minister Anita Anand said the Canadian Armed Forces will be sending up to 4,500 rocket launchers and 7,500 hand grenades to the Ukrainian military.
Freeland said Canada is also opening up two new immigration streams for Ukrainian refugees. One will allow an unlimited number to come to Canada on a temporary basis. The other is family reunification for those who wish to stay permanently in Canada.
Freeland said Ottawa is using tools that no one even imagined deploying a week ago and there’s more to come.
