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Minister of Foreign Affairs appearance before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA) on Ukraine

2022-04-28

Table of contents

  1. Background Information
    1. Scenario Note
    2. Opening Remarks
    3. Committee Members’ Biographies
  2. Ukraine
    1. Response to Russian aggression
    2. Sanctions, Penalties & Effectiveness on Russia & Belarus
    3. Financial and Humanitarian Support for Ukraine
    4. Military Aid for Ukraine (DND)
    5. Supporting Ukrainian Refugees and Displaced Persons (IRCC)
    6. Reinforcing Eastern flank allies
    7. Consular support to Canadians
  3. AEFA study on Global Affairs Canada
    1. GAC ‘Fit for Purpose’

A. Background Information

Meeting scenario

Committee context

Relevant committee interests

Humanitarian Assistance

Off Ramps and Outcomes

Sanctions

NATO

Remarks

The Honourable Mélanie Joly Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada

Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade April 28, 2022

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss with you the situation in Ukraine. I will speak for five minutes on Canada's response, focusing on 1) sanctions, 2) support for Ukraine, 3) how Canada is strengthening eastern flank allies, and 4) consular support for Canadians.

Response to Russian agression (including sanctions)

I will begin with sanctions. To date, Canada has imposed very tough sanctions on over 750 individuals and entities that are complicit in President Putin's illegal and unjustifiable war. Canada has played a leading role in this regard and we are working in close coordination with our allies and partners. Our collective response has been unprecedented in both its scope and level of coordination.

The targets of our sanctions are Russians, Belarussians and Ukrainians. Many have close ties to the Russian regime. They are oligarchs, members of the ruling class in the financial, defense and energy sectors. We sanction Russian banks; members of the State Duma and the Security Council; Ukrainian disinformation agents; people close to the Lukashenko regime in Belarus. We are also sanctioning relatives of many of these individuals, including those of President Putin himself.

Canada has also imposed export and import bans and insurance bans. We have also banned Russian ships from docking in Canada or passing through Canadian waters, and we have closed Canadian airspace to all Russian and Belarusian aircraft operators.

These measures are designed to make President Putin and his accomplices pay for their crimes in Ukraine and to force Russia to stop the war and withdraw its troops and equipment from the sovereign territory of Ukraine.

Support for Ukraine

Following the invasion, Canada acted swiftly with its partners to support Ukraine and isolate the Putin regime politically and economically.

We continue to engage in intense diplomacy in support of Ukraine. We call for respect for international humanitarian law and human rights. We call for the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid to civilians, and the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

We are deeply concerned about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the growing number of refugees in neighboring countries, and the global impact on food security and other humanitarian needs.

Since January, Canada has committed $245 million to the humanitarian response. Of this amount, $145 million has been donated to the Red Cross, the United Nations and NGO partners.

Canadians have been very generous, donating more than $126 million to the Red Cross appeal, with an additional $30 million in matching funds from the Government of Canada.

Canada has also committed over $164 million in military contributions since January. This includes: $25 million in military equipment requested by Ukraine; $60 million in military assistance; and $1 million in funding for weapons, munitions, equipment and satellite imagery.

As announced in the budget, Canada will provide an additional $500 million in military assistance to Ukraine in 2022-2023.

Further support includes:

Meanwhile, our diplomatic efforts continue at NATO, the OSCE, the G7, the OAS, the UN and with non- traditional partners.

Canada strongly advocated for two successful UN resolutions condemning Russian aggression and drawing attention to the humanitarian consequences of the invasion.

Canada was also among the states to refer the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court.

Reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank allies

Canada is contributing to reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank Allies in response to Russia’s invasion.

Through Operation REASSURANCE, we are now deploying approximately 1,375 troops to NATO’s eastern flank. This is Canada’s largest international military operation. Our forces include members of all three branches of the armed forces, as well as frigates, CF-18s and a patrol aircraft.

About half of the troops we have committed are with the Canada-led enhanced Forward Presence battle group in Latvia.

An additional 3,400 Canadian Armed Forces personnel are ready to deploy to the NATO Response Force, if needed.

Last month Prime Minister Trudeau announced a renewed commitment to Operation REASSURANCE beyond 2023. We continue to support NATO’s prudent military planning and a strengthened deterrence and defence posture on the eastern flank.

100 CAF troops have also deployed to Poland to assist with the arrival of Ukrainian refugees and to provide medical support.

All Canadian troops who were committed to Operation UNIFIER in Ukraine have returned to Canada.

Consular support to Canadians

Global Affairs Canada is providing 24/7 consular services to Canadians, permanent residents and their families via our network of missions in Eastern Europe and the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

Most Canadians who can cross the Ukrainian border without a visa have left the country.

Our consular work is now focused on communicating with any Canadians in the region; delivery of services and diplomatic engagement with neighbouring countries.

Committee Members' Biographies

Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA)
44th Parliament – First Session
December 2021 to Present

CHAIR

Peter Boehm
(ISG – Ontario)

Deputy Chair

Peter Harder
(PSG – Ontario)

2nd Deputy Chair

Michael L. MacDonald
(CPC – Cape Breton, NS)

Members

Stephen Greene
(CSG – Nova Scotia)

Gwen Boniface
(ISG – Ontario)

Victor Oh
(C – Ontario)

David Richards
(CSG – New Brunswick)

Marty Deacon
(ISG – Ontario – Waterloo Region)

Mary Coyle
(ISG – Nova Scotia)

Amina Gerba
(PSG – Quebec)

Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia
(ISG- Newfoundland- Labrador)

Yuen Pau Woo
(ISG – British Colombia)

Order for Questioning:

Unlike the House of Commons there is no specific order of questions. While the opening remarks are being given, Members catch the eye of the Clerk, indicating they wish to be added to the list of to ask questions. Any Senator, even if they are not a Member of the Committee, has the right to attend the meeting, sit at the table and ask questions. These non-committee members may not vote, however votes at Senate Committees are very rare.

Witnesses typically have 10 minutes each for their opening remarks, but the Chair will often request witnesses to keep opening remarks to 5 minutes if appearing alongside other witnesses providing opening remarks.

Mandate:

The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade studies and reports on legislation referred to it by the House of Commons. The Committee usually initiates at least one major study at a time that can last more than a year. In addition to motions that allow for a specific topic of study, the Committee will always have a broad motion that allows short studies of one or two meetings as global issues development.

The general subject area of the Committee includes the following:

The federal departments and agencies under the Committee’s direct scrutiny are:

Peter Boehm
(ISG – Ontario)
Date of nomination: 2018-10-03
Date of retirement: 2029-04-26

PETER BOEHM
Key Interests
Parliamentary Roles
Notable Committee Memberships
Background

Born in Kitchener, Ontario, Senator Boehm holds a PhD in History from the University of Edinburgh, a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University and a Bachelor of Arts in English and History from Wilfrid Laurier University.

He was Deputy Minister for the G-7 Summit and Personal Representative of the Prime Minister (Sherpa) from July 2017, until his retirement from the Public Service in September 2018. Peter Boehm had previously been Deputy Minister of International Development, Associate, and, subsequently, Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. From 2013 to 2017, he concurrently served as Sherpa for the G-8 and subsequent G-7 Summits, as well as the Nuclear Security Summit.

A former career Foreign Service officer, he served as Ambassador to Germany from 2008 to 2012 and previously as Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas, North America and Consular Affairs. Abroad, he was Minister (political and public affairs) at the Embassy of Canada to the United States in Washington and Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States. He has held a variety of diplomatic positions including assignments in Cuba and Costa Rica.

Senator Boehm is not in support of Motion No. 36 to Motion to Call Upon the Government to Condemn the Joint Azerbaijani-Turkish Aggression Against the Republic of Artsakh.

Peter Harder
(PSG—Ontario)
Date of nomination: 2016-03-23
Date of retirement: 2027-08-25

PETER HARDER
Key Interests
Parliamentary Roles

Senator Harder entered the Senate in March 2016 where he served as the Government representative from April 2016 until January 2020.

Notable committee membership
Background

Senator Harder arrived in the Senate with nearly 30 years of experience in the federal public service, including in the departments of immigration, public safety, industry, the treasury board and foreign affairs.

Senator Harder was born in Winnipeg but grew up in Vineland, Ont., in the Niagara Region. His parents, refugees from the former USSR, owned a local grocery store where he worked as a teen. He studied political science at the University of Waterloo before moving to Ottawa to work as a Parliamentary intern. After completing graduate studies at Queen’s University, he joined the foreign service in 1977, and soon after served as an assistant to then-minister Flora MacDonald. He then served as chief of staff to the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, then leader of the opposition and, subsequently, the deputy prime minister in the first government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

Senator Harder served as the founding executive director of the Immigration and Refugee Board. He was first appointed as deputy minister in 1991 – a role he eventually would play under five different prime ministers and 12 ministers, including in the departments of immigration, public safety, industry, the treasury board and foreign affairs.

Victor Oh
(CPC—Mississauga, Ontario)
Date of nomination: 2013-01-25
Date of retirement: 2024-06-10

VICTOR OH
Key Interests
Parliamentary Roles

He is a member of the Canada-China Legislative Association.

Notable committee membership
Background

Victor Oh is a proud Canadian of Chinese heritage.  He immigrated to Canada from Singapore in 1978. Since then, he has been an active community leader and a resident of Mississauga, Ontario. As a prominent member of the Chinese-Canadian community, Mr. Oh has devoted himself to promoting multiculturalism in addition to helping newcomers establish themselves in Canada and start their own businesses.

Mr. Oh is the founding chairman of the Canada-China Business Communication Council and President of Wyford Holdings. He also serves as a member of the Board of Governors of Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. He is the former president of Mississauga Chinese Business Association and former co-chair of the Confederation of Greater Toronto Chinese Business Association.

Over the years, Mr. Oh has been recognized for his contributions to Ontario and Canada. He was awarded the Robert Boyne Memorial Award by the Peel Regional Police Services Board in 2007 and the prestigious Citation for Citizenship (now known as Canada’s Citizenship Awards) by the Government of Canada in 2008, in recognition of Mr. Oh’s outstanding role in promoting the value of citizenship and helping newcomers to integrate into Canadian society. In 2010, Mr. Oh became the first Chinese in 26 years to receive a Tribute Dinner by the Community Living Foundation of Mississauga. In 2011, the Canadian Immigrant magazine named him one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants.

Michael L. Macdonald
(CPC —Cape Breton, Ns)
Date of nomination: 2009-01-02
Date of retirement: 2030-05-04

MICHAEL L. MACDONALD
Key Interests
Parliamentary Roles

Co-Chair of the Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group and Treasurer of the Canada-Korea Inter- Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Notable committee membership
Background

The Honourable Michael L. MacDonald is a Nova Scotia businessman and long-time Conservative activist He is the youngest of 10 children in a family with ancestral roots to some of Cape Breton’s earliest settlers.

Senator MacDonald attended King’s College at Dalhousie University in Halifax, graduating in 1977 with an Honours degree in political science. He first came to Ottawa in 1978, working as a researcher in the Progressive Conservative Research Office until 1980. Returning to Nova Scotia, he worked in the office of the Hon. Gerald Sheehy (1980-82), and later served as Executive Assistant to Premier John Buchanan (1982-84). Thereafter, returning to Parliament Hill, he served as Executive Assistant to the Hon. Tom McMillan (1984-85), and later to the Hon. Stewart McInnes (1985-87).

Since 1988, he has been the President and owner of the Fortress Inn Louisbourg, a motel and restaurant complex near his family home in Cape Breton.

He ran twice for federal office, first in 1988, in the riding of Cape Breton-East Richmond, and again in 2004, running in Dartmouth-Cole Harbour. He also ran twice provincially for the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party in 1993 and 1998.

Until his appointment to the Upper House, Senator MacDonald served as Vice-President of the Conservative Party of Canada, and the party’s National Councillor for Nova Scotia.

He has also maintained an active role in the Nova Scotia community – coaching minor hockey and baseball, raising funds for cystic fibrosis research, as well as supporting various organizations to promote and preserve Nova Scotia heritage and the Gaelic language.

Mary Coyle
(ISG—Nova Scotia)
Date of nomination: 2017-12-04
Date of retirement: 2029-11-05

MARY COYLE
Key Interests
Notable Committee Memberships
Background

Senator Coyle holds a diploma in French Language from the Université de Besançon in France and a Bachelor of Arts in Languages and Literature with a major in French and a minor in Spanish from the University of Guelph. After working for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as a Cuso International cooperant in Botswana, she earned a Master of Arts in Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph. She subsequently worked as a rural development advisor in Indonesia and later to support two State Islamic Universities develop their community engagement strategies.

In 1997, she joined St. Francis Xavier University, serving as Vice President and Director of the school’s Coady International Institute and in 2014, she became the Executive Director of the Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership.

Senator Coyle is the sponsor of Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act. Bill S-2 seeks to amend Canada’s Chemical Weapons Implementation Act to align the act with the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons, otherwise known as the Chemical Weapons Convention, or CWC.

Marty Deacon
(ISG – Ontario, Waterloo Region)
Date of nomination: 2018-02-15
Date of retirement: 2033-04-23

MARTY DEACON
Key Interests
Notable committee membership
Background

Prior to serving in the Senate, Senator Deacon completed a 35-year career in Education. As an Educator with a Masters of Education (Western University) she taught (Physics, Science, Physical & Health Education) in Secondary Schools (Waterloo Region District School Board), at two Universities (University of Toronto, Western University), was a Consultant, and an Administrator at the Elementary and Secondary School level. Deacon finished her career in Education as Superintendent. Senator Deacon presently serves as Director on the Canadian Olympic Committee, Commonwealth Games Canada, Ontario Excellence Leadership Centre and the Grand River Jazz Society.

Senator Deacon is most passionate about the physical and mental well-being of all Canadians. She is an advocate for the future of women and young girls and children worldwide. She has mentored and supported leaders in developing countries with a belief that sport, the arts and education can build better communities, one community at a time. Senator Deacon is dedicated to ensuring organizations can thrive and function at optimal levels. She has assisted with developing governance and policy that allows this to happen in a meaningful, purposeful and respectful way.

Stephen Greene
(CSG—The Citadel, Halifax, Ns)
Date of nomination: 2005-01-02
Date of retirement: 2024-12-08

STEPHEN GREENE
Key Interests
Parliamentary Roles

Greene was a candidate for the Reform Party in the 1993 and 1997 federal elections. He also served as Chief of Staff to Preston Manning of the Reform Party of Canada from 1993 to 1996. In 2006, he became Principal Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff to Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald.

Notable Committee Memberships
Background

Senator Greene was born in Montreal and went to high school in Lorne Park, Mississauga, Ontario. He has an Honours BA from McMaster University and an MA from Dalhousie University. He lives in Halifax.

Senator Greene worked at the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC where he was asked to report on how the United States made its fisheries policy in the aftermath of the 200 mile limit. Subsequently, he managed the government relations of H.B. Nickerson & Sons Limited.

While in the fishing industry, he was asked to return to the Foreign Service. He was sent to the Canadian Consulate in Boston where he managed the new boundary in the Gulf of Maine. He subsequently joined Clearwater Fine Foods, Inc. Under his guidance, the Canadian fishery adopted a system of transferable property rights, which enabled investment to thrive.

Senator Greene served as Chief of Staff to Preston Manning of the Reform Party of Canada from 1993 to 1996. He subsequently worked in the insurance industry and became engaged in national and international insurance issues.

Amina Gerba
(PSG— Riguad,Quebec)
Date of nomination: 2021-07-29
Date of retirement: 2036-03-13

AMINA GERBA
Key Interests
Parliamentary Roles

Senator Gerba is a member of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association and the Canada-France Inter-Parliamentary Association.

Notable Committee Memberships
Background

Hailing from Cameroon, Ms. Gerba worked for a number of Canadian companies from 1993 to 1995, with a focus on the development of African markets. In 1995, she started her own consulting firm, Afrique Expansion Inc., in order to build bridges between Canada and Africa, and encourage business opportunities. Since then, she has created and managed other businesses, including Flash Beauté Inc. and Kariliss Laboratories Inc., as well as the non-profit organization Forum Afrique Expansion.

From February 2018 until her appointment as an independent senator in the Parliament of Canada in July 2021, Ms. Gerba was Chair of the Board of Directors of Entreprendre ici, an organization set up as part of Quebec’s 2017-2022 Plan d’action gouvernemental en entrepreneuriat to support entrepreneurs from cultural communities. A very socially engaged woman, Ms. Gerba has served on several public and private boards, including the Université du Québec à Montréal and its executive committee. She is a member and former president of the Rotary Club of Old Montreal, and a mentor for the Réseau des entrepreneurs et professionnels africains.

Ms. Gerba holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Master of Business Administration from the Université du Québec à Montréal. She is the mother of four children: Ali, Aïcha, Habi, Kiari and grandmother of three.

Gwen Boniface
(ISG— Ontario)
Date of nomination: 2016-11-10
Date of retirement: 2030-08-05

GWEN BONIFACE
Key Interests
Parliamentary Roles

She is a member of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association and the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly.

Notable Committee Memberships
Background

Senator Boniface initiated a Truth and Reconciliation project in her home community of Orillia in 2019 with Indigenous and non-Indigenous members. The initiative has grown and continues to evolve through regular meetings with local Elders and community stakeholders. She has dedicated her efforts in the Senate to address Human Trafficking, ending Domestic Violence and curbing the Opioid Crisis. In November of 2021, she introduced a Senate public bill entitled Bill S-232: An Act respecting the development of a national strategy for the decriminalization of illegal substances, to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

Prior to Senator Boniface’s appointment to the Upper Chamber, she served internationally for 10 years, including as Deputy Chief Inspector of Ireland’s Garda Síochána Inspectorate tasked with reforming Ireland’s national police service; as a Transnational Organized Crime Expert with the United Nations Police Division and as Deputy Executive Director of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Senator Boniface was the first female Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police and is a past President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. Ms. Boniface served with Law Commission of Canada for 5 years as a Commissioner.

David Richards
(CSG—New Brunswick)
Date of nomination: 2017-08-30
Date of retirement: 2025-10-17

DAVID RICHARDS
Key Interests
Notable Committee Memberships
Background

David Adams Richards is an acclaimed Canadian novelist, essayist, screenwriter and poet, whose commitment to the Miramichi River valley, his province, and the country is reflected in his body of work. His writings, through which he gives voices to the marginalized and helps to deepen the reader’s understanding of the human experience, have been translated into 12 languages, and are part of the curriculum of Canadian and U.S. universities.

Mr. Richards has been a writer-in-residence at several universities and colleges across Canada and has received honorary doctorates from three New Brunswick universities and the Atlantic School of Theology. He is one of only three writers to have won in both the fiction and non-fiction categories of the Governor General’s Literary Award. He was a co-winner of the 2000 Giller Prize for his novel Mercy Among the Children and has received numerous other prestigious awards, including the Canada-Australia Literary Prize, two Gemini Awards for scriptwriting, the Alden Nowlan Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Canadian Authors Association Award and the 2011 Matt Cohen Award for a distinguished lifetime of contribution to Canadian literature.

In 2007, he was awarded the regional Commonwealth Writers’ Prize award. He is a member of the Order of New Brunswick and the Order of Canada. The Writers’ Union of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University have established annual awards in Mr. Richards’ name.

Yuen Pau Woo
(ISG—British Columbia)
Date of nomination: 2016-11-10
Date of retirement: 2038-03-02

YUEN PAU WOO
Key Interests
Parliamentary Roles

Senator Woo served as the ISG Facilitator 2017-2021.

Notable Committee Memberships
Background

Senator Woo has worked on public policy issues related to Canada’s relations with Asian countries for more than 30 years. From 2005-2014, he was President and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, where he continues to serve as Distinguished East Asia Fellow. He is also Senior Fellow at Simon Fraser University’s Graduate School of Business, and at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia. He is a member of the Trilateral Commission and on the board of the Vancouver Academy of Music. He also serves on the Advisory Boards of the Mosaic Institute, the Canadian Ditchley Foundation, and the York Centre for Asian Research.

Mohamed-iqbal Ravalia
(ISG—Newfoundland And Labrador)
Date of nomination: 2018-06-01
Date of retirement: 2032-08-15

MOHAMED-IQBAL RAVALIA
Key Interests
Parliamentary Roles
Notable Committee Memberships
Background

Senator Ravalia is a respected physician, medical educator and has strong community ties to Twillingate, NL.

Senator Ravalia was born and raised in the southern African country of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He immigrated to Canada in 1984 and practiced Family Medicine in Twillingate, NL until his appointment to the Senate in June 2018.

Senator Ravalia attended the Godfrey Huggins School of Medicine in Rhodesia where he earned his Medical degree ( MB.ChB.) in 1980. He completed his Certification in Family Medicine (CCFP) in 1992. He is currently a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (FCFP). His community engagement has included involvement with the local minor hockey executive, community outreach initiatives, and fundraising for the Lions Club and support of the Anglican Church Sunday school program.

B. Ukraine

Response to Russian aggression

Supplementary messages

Supporting facts and figures

Sanctions in response to the Russian invasion in Ukraine

Supplementary messages

Update

Since the start of the crisis, under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA), Canada has sanctioned over 980 individuals and entities in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. This has included senior members of the Russian government, military and oligarchs, including President Putin, his two adult daughters and his inner circle. We have also severely restricted Russia’s access to the global financial system, including by sanctioning the Central Bank, major Russian financial institutions, and supported efforts to remove Russian Banks from the SWIFT financial system. We have imposed export controls, removed Russia’s and Belarus’s Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status and announced additional export restrictions against Russia and Belarus. We have closed Canadian airspace to Russia and Belarus and have closed ports and internal waters to Russian vessels, as well as imposing an import ban on Russian oil.

As part of a transatlantic task force with US, UK, EU and others, Canada works to identify assets and close all possible financial avenues and loopholes. To that end, G7 Finance Ministers released a joint statement on March 17, 2022, outlining their commitment to take all available legal steps to find, restrain, freeze, seize, and, where appropriate, confiscate or forfeit the assets of individuals and entities that have been sanctioned in connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Supporting facts and figures

Background

In close coordination with allies and partners, including the US, the U.K., the EU, Australia, Japan and several others, Canada is holding President Putin and those complicit in his aggressive actions, including Belarus and Russian proxies in Ukraine, accountable. Canada has enacted a number of punitive measures and imposed severe economic sanctions against Russia, and Belarus, for their war of aggression against Ukraine. Canada will continue to impose even more measures, so long as Russia persists with its unjustifiable aggression.

Measures to date:

Canada has implemented several rounds of sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Russia), (Belarus), and (Ukraine) Regulations.

In response to Russia’s recognition of the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, Canada imposed a dealings ban on the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, which will effectively prohibit Canadians from engaging in specific transactions and activities in these regions.

After Russia further violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by initiating a military attack against Ukraine, Canada:

In response to Belarus’ clear complicity with Russia’s unacceptable actions, Canada sanctioned 50 members of the Belarusian government, military and oligarchs, as well as 25 entities involved in Belarus’ financial, potash, energy, tobacco, and defence sectors.

Upcoming Measures

Canada continues to work with allies to address any loopholes. To that end, G7 Finance Ministers released a joint statement on March 17, 2022, outlining their commitment to take all available legal steps to find, restrain, freeze, seize, and, where appropriate, confiscate or forfeit the assets of individuals and entities that have been sanctioned in connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This was also included in the recent Budget 2022 announcement.

In the near future, Canada will continue to coordinate and align targets with like- minded countries in order apply further pressure on the Russian leadership and its supporters, as well as the Russian economy.

Impact on Canadian businesses

Canada has implemented several measures that gradually and exponentially impacted Canadian businesses. The dealings ban with major Russian financial institutions has restricted the capacity of Canadian companies to make payments and transfer money to Russia. The investment restrictions announced in March by Minister Champagne has further limited investment in the Russian market. Additionally, Canada prohibited the issuance of new permit applications and cancelled valid permits to export controlled military, strategic, and dual-use items to Russia. It also banned export of a list of technologies and goods, revoked Russia’s and Belarus’s Most Favoured Nation status, applying a 35% tariff on all imports from both countries, and prohibited Russian ships from entering Canadian waters and dock in Canada. Canadian businesses are also risk averse and tend to self-restrict themselves by fear of contravening sanctions.

Responsive only on Evraz: Canada has sanctioned the minority shareholder of Evraz PLC, the holding company in the United Kingdom.

Responsive only on fertilizer:

Russia and Belarus are important exporters of fertilizers on which many developing countries are highly reliant. Disruptions in fertilizer supply and price increases threaten Canada, as well as developing countries’ agricultural productivity. Canada is a significant importer of fertilizer products from Russia with imports totalling CAD$457.6 million in 2021 or 20% of all of Canada`s imports from Russia. Moreover, Russia`s Ministry of Trade recently recommended a ban to temporarily halt fertilizer exports.

This supply disruption could lead to increased production costs at the farm level and throughout the agri-food production chain in Canada.

Financial and Humanitarian Support for Ukraine

Supplementary messages

Supporting facts and figures

Financial support:

Humanitarian Support:

Military Aid for Ukraine (DND)

Question: What is this Government doing to support Ukraine during this attack against its sovereignty?

If pressed on the provision of further military aid to Ukraine:

Quick facts

Operation unifier

NATO Response to russian agression

Travel to Ukraine

Donation of divested military equipment

International Criminal Court investigation – war crimes in Ukraine

Supporting Ukrainian Refugees and Displaced Persons (IRCC)

Supplementary messages

If pressed on Ukraine’s request for visa liberalization:

Background

Internal and external displacement of Ukrainians has already begun, and could reach significant numbers over time.

Canada anticipates that the majority of international displacement will be in Europe, particularly in the EU states closest to Ukraine, but Canada is prepared to continue supporting all Ukrainians including in-Canada Ukrainian nationals wishing to remain in Canada.

Visa exemption request and related issues:

Reinforcing Eastern flank allies

Supplementary messages

Update

Following the deployment of an additional 460 soldiers to Operation REASSURANCE, Canada now contributes approximately 1,375 troops to the mission. This includes 695 troops with the Canada-led enhanced Forward Presence battle group in Latvia. These additional forces include ground troops for eFP Latvia, and an additional frigate and patrol aircraft. At the emergency NATO Summit on March 24, leaders announced the Alliance will establish four additional multinational battle groups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. All CAF troops committed to Operation UNIFIER in Ukraine have relocated back to Canada.

Supporting facts and figures

Background

Operation REASSURANCE is Canada’s military contribution to NATO’s efforts in Central and Eastern Europe. Since 2017, Canada has led the NATO eFP Battle Group in Latvia as the Framework Nation, one of four such battle groups with Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. Nine Allies currently contribute troops to Battle Group Latvia. On March 8, 2022, the Prime Minister announced Canada will renew its commitment to Operation REASSURANCE beyond 2023.

Consular support to Canadians

Supplementary messages

Background

Communications

Canadians Travelling to Fight in Ukraine

C. AEFA study on Global Affairs Canada

MODERNIZING CANADIAN DIPLOMACY (FIT-FOR- PURPOSE)

Supplementary messages

Update

The project planning started in April 2022, will be officially launched early May, and should be completed within one year [broadly aligning with the Senate Committee (AEFA) study].

To ensure cohesion and coherence, Global Affairs will engage with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, such as employees, departmental champions and networks, partner departments, Canadian stakeholders and other foreign ministries.

Background

In his Mandate Letter from 16 December 2021, the Prime Minister directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to strengthen Canada’s diplomatic capacity in order to advance Canada’s interests and values in a world facing increasingly complex threats.

On February 24, 2022, Senator Boehm put forward a motion, adopted by the Senate, authorizing the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA), which he chairs, to examine and report “on the Canadian foreign service and elements of the foreign policy machinery within Global Affairs Canada, and on other related matters.” The committee will submit its final report no later than March 30, 2023.

Date Modified: