Russia has imposed a new round of sanctions, banning 61 Canadians “indefinitely” from entering Russia, including prime ministers, mayors, journalists, military officials and senior officials in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.
They are on a “stop list”, which means that they will be denied entry into the Russian Federation. It is a move that Russia is seeking direct revenge for Canada’s continued sanctions on influential Russians in an attempt to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop its military attacks on Ukraine.
Five prime ministers – Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford, Manitoba Prime Minister Heather Stephenson, Saskatchewan Prime Minister Scott Mo, Alberta Prime Minister Jason Kenny and British Columbia Prime Minister John Horgan – are on the latest list released Thursday.
Toronto Mayor John Torrey and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson were banned by Russia, as was Canadian Ambassador to the UN Bob Ray, Bank of Canada Governor Typh MacLeam, Acting Secret Council official Janice Charette, and former Foreign Secretary Lloyd Axworthy. and former Senator Romeo Dahler.
Trudeau’s Chief of Staff Katie Telford, Deputy Chief of Staff Brian Clow, Senior Adviser Jeremy Broadhurst and Communications Director Cameron Ahmad were also sanctioned, along with senior officials with Deputy Prime Minister and Treasury Secretary Christia Freeland and Secretary of State Christia Anandata.
Freeland has been on Russia’s sanctions list for several years, while Trudeau and Anand have already been sanctioned by Russia, along with hundreds of federal politicians, and have recently been joined by most Canadian senators.
Senior security officials and the military are also on the list on Thursday. Among them are the head of the communications security agency Shelley Bruce, the commander of the special operations forces of the Canadian Armed Forces, Major General Steve Boyvin, and the commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, Craig Baines.
In what appears to be a counterweight, after Canada sanctioned some of Russia’s top media outlets, the latest round of sanctions also includes journalists and leading members of national media organizations. Among them are CTV News Vice President Michael Melling, CBC President Catherine Tate and The Globe and Mail Editor-in-Chief David Walmsley.
In what appears to be a counterweight, after Canada sanctioned some of Russia’s top media outlets, the latest round also includes journalists and leading members of national media organizations, including CTV News and CBC.
Russia’s foreign ministry claims that the sanctioned individuals are “directly involved in the development, justification and implementation of the Russophobic course of the ruling regime in Canada.”
In a statement Thursday, Russia vowed to add more “in response to Canadian government hostilities”, citing Canada’s decision to support Ukraine by sending weapons and other aid to help fight unjustified attacks. of Vladimir Putin.
Those who responded by adding them to the sanctions list largely consider the move insignificant.
The mayor of Ottawa issued a statement saying he suggested he was on the list because he had asked city officials to put up Free Ukraine street signs in front of the Russian embassy.
“I do not take this ban seriously and I will continue to speak out against the war crimes committed by Putin,” he said.
A Ford spokesman said the prime minister was clear: “Ontario stands by the people of Ukraine and our support will never waver.”
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