Minister of Foreign Affairs appearance before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA) on Ukraine
2022-04-28
A. Background Information
Meeting scenario
- Your in-person one-hour appearance before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA) begins at 12:30 p.m.
- Your appearance will be the second hour of the committee’s 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.meeting. The first hour will have been devoted to their ongoing study on the Canadian foreign service and elements of the foreign policy machinery within Global Affairs Canada.
- The following officials are accompanying you in-person during the appearance and may be called upon to respond to questions.
- Sandra McCardell, Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic Middle East and Maghreb
- Kevin Hamilton, Director General, International Security Policy
Committee context
- After your opening remarks of 5 minutes the committee will move to questions. Unlike the House of Commons, the Senate does not have rounds of questions by party affiliation. Senators indicate to the Clerk that they wish to be added to the list to ask questions and the Chair (Senator Boehm) acknowledges them in that order.
- For further information on committee membership, please see the committee bios included in this briefing binder. However, it should be noted that in the Senate, any Senator can attend any committee meeting and ask a question.
Relevant committee interests
- During this 44th Parliament, the committee has held one meeting on the situation in Ukraine. On March 3rd, 2022, GAC officials including Sandra McCardell appeared during the first hour. Academics and a former GAC Ambassador (Roman Waschuk) appeared during the second hour.
- Questions focused on four main themes: humanitarian assistance (both in country and neighbouring countries), off-ramps & potential outcomes, sanctions, and NATO.
Humanitarian Assistance
- Senator Oh asked what Canada is doing to help in Ukraine, and neighbouring countries such as Poland and Romania that are taking in Ukrainian refugees. Senator Harder asked about the humanitarian crisis that could be coming from Gulf and Middle Eastern countries that are dependant on Ukrainian wheat.
Off Ramps and Outcomes
- Chair Boehm concluded the first hour by saying diplomats must always look for ‘off- ramps’, and while there is lots of speculation about this, he sees it as being very difficult in this instance given that Putin has allegedly just told Macron he is going all the way. In the second hour Senator Woo asked if the Minsk agreement could be a potential off-ramp.
Sanctions
- Senator MacDonald asked why so many people close to Putin are not yet on the list and also about going after companies that have less than 50% Russian ownership. In the second hour Senator MacDonald noted that this is reportedly costing Russia about $20b per day, asking how long can they keep this up.
NATO
- Senator Harder said that he did not think that weapons (from the West) nor diplomacy will stop Putin from going into the Baltic States and Europe.
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:
- $1 billion in new loans through a new Administered Account for Ukraine at the International Monetary Fund. This is in addition to the $620 million loan offer Canada made earlier this year.
- $13.4 million to the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism to counter disinformation;
- $3 million through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program to counter Russian disinformation;
- $35 million in development assistance;
- $117 million to implement two new immigration streams for Ukrainians coming to Canada:
- the Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (temporary), and
- an expedited path for permanent residency through a new family sponsorship program (permanent).
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:
- Free Trade Agreements and Canada’s international trade policy;
- Bilateral Relations
The federal departments and agencies under the Committee’s direct scrutiny are:
- Global Affairs Canada (except Development)
- Export Development Canada
- Canadian Commercial Corporation
Peter Boehm
(ISG – Ontario)
Date of nomination: 2018-10-03
Date of retirement: 2029-04-26
Key Interests
- Bilateral Relations
- CUSMA
- Multilateral Relations
Parliamentary Roles
Notable Committee Memberships
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA), November 2018-present
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on National Finance (NFFN), November 2018-Present
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
Key Interests
- Trade Agreements
- Parliamentary Democracy
- China
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
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA), November 2020 – present
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
Key Interests
- Trade Agreements
- China
- Asia-Pacific
Parliamentary Roles
He is a member of the Canada-China Legislative Association.
Notable committee membership
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA), September 2013 - present
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (AGFO), December 2021 – present
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
Key Interests
- Trade Agreements
Parliamentary Roles
Co-Chair of the Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group and Treasurer of the Canada-Korea Inter- Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Notable committee membership
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA), December 2021 - present
- Deputy Chair, Senate Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources (ENEV), December 2015 – September 2019
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Communication (TRCM), June 2011 – September 2019
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
Key Interests
- Bill S-2 (Sponsor)
- Gender Equality
- Human Rights
- Development
Notable Committee Memberships
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA), February 2019-present
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples (APPA), February 2018-September 2019
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
Key Interests
- Sports
Notable committee membership
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA), November 2020 to present
- Member, Senate Committee on National Security and Defence (SECD) September 2020 - present
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
Key Interests
- Trade Agreements
- Seafood Exports
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
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA), January 2015-present
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures, and the Rights of Parliament (RPRD) December 5, 2019-present
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
Key Interests
- Canada – Africa trade
- Human Rights
Parliamentary Roles
Senator Gerba is a member of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association and the Canada-France Inter-Parliamentary Association.
Notable Committee Memberships
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA), December 2021-present
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on National Finance (NFFN), December 2021-present
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights (RIDR), December 2021-present
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
Key Interests
- Defence & Security
- Human Trafficking
- Organized Crime
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
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA) – December 2021-present
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Rules, Procedure and Rights of Parliament (RPRD) - November 2016 – present
- Chair, Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence (SECD) – 2017-2021
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
Key Interests
- Trade Agreements
- Literature
Notable Committee Memberships
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA) – December 2021 – present
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on National Finance (NFFN) – December 2019-present
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence (SECD) December 2019-present
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
Key Interests
- Trade
- Canada-China Relations
- Asia-Pacific
Parliamentary Roles
Senator Woo served as the ISG Facilitator 2017-2021.
Notable Committee Memberships
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA) – December 2021 – present
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce (BANC) – December 2015-present
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations (REGS) December 2019- present
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
Key Interests
- Giving Artists Royalties
- Aging and Dementia
Parliamentary Roles
Notable Committee Memberships
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA), November 2020-present
- Member, Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SOCI), June 2018- June 2019
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
- Canada strongly condemns President Putin’s unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine, which is an attack on the rules-based international order, including the UN Charter.
- Canada moved quickly, in coordination with G7 and NATO partners, to provide substantive and meaningful support to Ukraine and to isolate Putin’s regime politically and economically.
- Canada will continue to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will continue to stand in solidarity with the brave and resilient people in Ukraine.
Supplementary messages
- Canada continues to engage in intense diplomacy with partners and allies, as well as with the broader international community, to enhance our humanitarian, economic, and military support for Ukraine and call on Russia to turn to diplomacy.
- Canada remains deeply concerned about the worsening humanitarian crisis, including the Russian military’s horrific targeting of civilians, destruction of entire cities, the sheer increase in displacement, and the increasing vulnerabilities of refugees and internally displaced persons as a result of this crisis. It is critical to continue scaling up humanitarian capacity.
- Since February 2022, Canada has imposed sanctions on almost 1000 Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian individuals and entities implicated in Putin’s war.
Supporting facts and figures
- Canada responds to complex humanitarian crises, including in Ukraine, by providing funding to an established international humanitarian response system made up of UN agencies, the Red Cross Movement, and experienced non- governmental organizations (NGOs).
- Since January 2022, Canada has committed $245 million to support the humanitarian response in Ukraine and other impacted countries in the region. Of this amount, $145 million has already been allocated to experienced Red Cross, UN, and NGO partners.
- Canada’s flexible funding enables these organizations to procure relief items and to deploy equipment and trained personnel quickly and efficiently through established and coordinated humanitarian networks. Canada also deploys humanitarian and logistics experts to augment UN capabilities on the ground so that aid reaches affected populations.
- Recognizing gaps in supply chains, Canada is also coordinating the delivery of relief and medical supplies it stockpiles to support the operations of humanitarian partners.
- Leveraging its humanitarian partnerships, including with the Canadian Red Cross, Canada has so far delivered 1,052 family tents and 376,000 essential relief items from its stockpiles.
- Prime Minister Trudeau and President of the European Commission Von der Leyen co-hosted the “Stand Up with Ukraine” pledging event on April 9, which raised over $12.4 billion in pledges to support Ukrainian refugees and the ongoing humanitarian response.
- Since January 2022, Canada has committed over $118 million in military aid to support Ukraine.
- As part of the 2022 Federal Budget, Canada is committing an additional $500 million in military assistance to address Ukraine’s urgent and ongoing defence needs.
- From 2015 through January 2022, Canada’s Operation UNIFIER has provided training to over 33,000 Ukrainian military personnel and security forces.
- Canada announced in Budget 2022 that we are offering up to $1 billion in new loan resources to the Government of Ukraine through a new Administered Account for Ukraine at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- This is on top of the offer of up to $620 million in bilateral loans made this year to bolster Ukraine’s economic resilience.
- Canada is providing an additional $13.4 million to the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (RMM) to counter disinformation.
- Canada will also provide $3 million through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) to support programming to counter disinformation around Putin’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
- Since the invasion, PSOPs has developed over $9M in new stabilization programming with partners to support Ukrainian resistance and resilience. This programming focuses on supporting Ukrainian civil society and human rights organizations, scaling up mine action efforts, as well as monitoring and documenting human rights violations.
- Canada announced an additional $35 million in development assistance funding to address emerging priorities, including supporting the resilience of Ukraine's government institutions and civil society organisations so they are able to meet the needs of Ukrainians, in particular women and vulnerable groups.
- On March 3, Canada announced two new immigration streams for Ukrainians coming to Canada – the Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (temporary) and an expedited path for permanent residency through a new family sponsorship program (permanent) - and $117 million to implement these measures.
- On April 9, the Prime Minister announced an additional series of measures to make coming to Canada easier, including targeted charter flights for Ukrainians, short-term income support to ensure basic needs are met, and temporary hotel accommodation for up to two weeks.
- Diplomacy and coordination continue at the UN, NATO, OSCE, and G7, including with non-traditional partners. G7 Foreign Ministers met on April 6-7, and are set to meet again in May. G7 Leaders met on March 24.
- Canada strongly advocated for three successful UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions: suspension of Russia’s membership to the Human Rights Council (April 7), humanitarian consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine, (March 24), condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine (March 2).
- On March 1, Canada referred of the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court (ICC), along with 38 other member states due to allegations of international crimes in Ukraine by Russian forces, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Sanctions in response to the Russian invasion in Ukraine
- Canada warned Russia that if it continued to escalate aggression, it would respond by escalating its sanctions. This has been Canada’s response.
- Since February 24, 2022, Canada has imposed new sanctions on more than 980 individuals and entities under its Special Economic Measures Act.
- These sanctions continue to have a strong impact on the Russian economy, and are a powerful symbol of Canada’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to the international rules-based order.
- Canada will continue to work in coordination with like-minded countries to sanction targets that impact the Russian government’s ability to continue the war in Ukraine, including senior officials, entities and people close to the regime.
Supplementary messages
- Responsive on negative impact on the Canadian economy: In order to be effective and have a real impact, Canada is to be prepared for there to be some adverse consequences to our own economy.
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
- Canadian trade with Russia represents under 1% of Canada’s overall trade.
- Canada exported $656 million in merchandise to Russia in 2021 while Russia exported $2.1 billion to Canada last year. In 2020, the last year for which we have statistics, Canada’s stock of foreign direct investment in Russia was $781 million while Russian investment in Canada stood at $1.8 billion.
- Canada removed Russia from Most Favoured Nation tariff treatment; effectively imposing a 35% duty on virtually all imports from Russia and Belarus;
- Russian registered or owned vessels, now banned from Canadian ports or internal waters, make up under 1% of international marine traffic in Canadian waters.
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.
- Most notably, Canada sanctioned senior Russian officials including President Putin, all members of the state Duma, the Federation Council and the Security Council.
- Since February 24, 2022, Canada has sanctioned 674 individuals and 113 entities.
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:
- Targeted individuals and senior officials, oligarchs, close associates of the Putin regime and disinformation agents, as well as state-owned entities and those supporting the regime ongoing aggressive actions.
- Targeted Russia’s ability to raise or transfer funds and maintain funds in Canadian dollars:
- o Canada prohibited all dealings with several Russian institutions, including Sberbank, VTB, VEB and the Central Bank of Russia, the Ministry of Finance and the National Wealth Fund, as well as successfully advocated for the removal of several Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system.
- Imposed several measures to reduce trade:
- Canada revoked Russia’s and Belarus’s Most Favoured Nation status, applying a 35% tariff on all imports from Russia and Belarus.
- Canada prohibited all Russian-owned, chartered, used, or leased vessels from entering Canadian internal waters and docking at our ports.
- As Russia’s economy depends heavily on the energy sector, Canada moved ahead with a prohibition on import of three distinct types of oil products, including crude oil, from Russia.
- Canada prohibited the export to Russia of a list of goods and technologies. The list of restricted goods and technologies includes a broad range of items in the areas of electronics, computers, telecommunications, sensors and lasers, navigation and avionics, marine, aerospace and transportation.
- Canada also issued a policy statement advising non-Canadian investors and Canadian businesses to review their investment plans involving potential connections to Russian investors and entities, including controlling and minority interests.
- Implemented export control measures,
- Canada prohibited the issuance of new permit applications and cancelled valid permits to export controlled military, strategic, and dual-use items to Russia.
- Imposed a ban on Russian and Belarusian aircraft – owned or operated – from Canadian airspace.
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
- Canada has moved quickly to provide substantive and meaningful support to strengthen Ukraine’s economic resilience and respond to the humanitarian crisis.
- Canada is engaged in intense diplomacy with partners and allies, as well as with the broader international community, to enhance our humanitarian, economic, and development support for Ukraine and to press Russia to leave Ukraine.
- Canada will continue to provide steadfast support, as we stand in solidarity with the brave and resilient people in Ukraine.
Supplementary messages
- Canada is deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the growing number of refugees in neighboring host countries, and the global impact of the crisis on exacerbating existing humanitarian needs around the world, particularly on food insecurity.
- Canada calls for international humanitarian and human rights law to be upheld, particularly through rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, and the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
- Ukraine’s financing needs are large, and will increase as the conflict continues. Their government will require significant resources to stabilize their economy and – eventually – begin rebuilding. We must continue to work with our partners to support the Ukrainian government.
Supporting facts and figures
Financial support:
- Canada has provided substantive financial support to Ukraine. We announced in Budget 2022 that we are offering up to $1 billion in new loan resources to the Government of Ukraine through a new Administered Account for Ukraine at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- This is separate from the offer of up to $500 million in bilateral loans made this year to bolster Ukraine’s economic resilience, of which $300 million has now been disbursed.
Humanitarian Support:
- Canada responds to complex humanitarian crises, including in Ukraine, by providing funding to an established international humanitarian response system made up of UN agencies, the Red Cross Movement, and experienced non- governmental organizations (NGOs).
- Since January 2022, Canada has committed $245 million to support the humanitarian response in Ukraine and other impacted countries in the region. Of this amount, $145 million has already been allocated to experienced Red Cross, UN, and NGO partners. Canada’s flexible funding enables these organizations to procure relief items and to deploy equipment and trained personnel quickly and efficiently through established and coordinated humanitarian networks.
- Prime Minister Trudeau and President of the European Commission Von der Leyen co-hosted the “Stand Up with Ukraine” pledging event on April 9, which raised over $12.4 billion in pledges to support Ukrainian refugees and the ongoing humanitarian response.
- Canadians have also been very generous in responding to humanitarian needs, contributing over $126.9 million towards an appeal by the Canadian Red Cross—in addition to the $30 million in matching funds committed by the Government of Canada. These funds are being used by the Red Cross Movement to help address the critical medical and other essential needs of people impacted by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
- Recognizing gaps in supply chains, Canada is also coordinating the delivery of relief and medical supplies it stockpiles to support the operations of humanitarian partners.
- Leveraging its humanitarian partnerships, including with the Canadian Red Cross, Canada has so far delivered 1,052 family tents and 376,000 essential relief items from its stockpiles.
- Canada announced an additional $35 million in development assistance funding to address emerging priorities, including supporting the resilience of Ukraine's government institutions and civil society organisations so they are able to meet the needs of Ukrainians, in particular women and vulnerable groups. Canada is supporting emergency hotlines and the provision of essential medical equipment and services to various hospitals and municipal clinics serving IDPs, elderly, children and women; providing psychosocial support and establishing safe-spaces for women and girls; and supporting the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers in establishing rules and a database to protect and track children crossing the border.
- Canadian partners are implementing various activities aimed at supporting, uplifting and protecting women and girls, who are at increased risk for sexual and gender- based violence, conflict-related sexual violence, human-trafficking and whose sexual and reproductive health and rights are at risk. This includes activities related to human-trafficking prevention, psychosocial support and rapid gender- conflict analysis and data collection.
Military Aid for Ukraine (DND)
Question: What is this Government doing to support Ukraine during this attack against its sovereignty?
- In the face of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, Canada is working closely with our partners to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty and security.
- That is why Budget 2022 commits $500 million in military aid for Ukraine.
- This support is on top of the more than $118 million in military aid that we have provided to Ukraine since January 2022.
- Most recently, we delivered M777 howitzers and associated ammunition, as requested by Ukraine.
- We remain committed to the people of Ukraine and working with our Allies and partners to support Ukraine in meaningful ways.
If pressed on the provision of further military aid to Ukraine:
- We continue to analyse options to provide further aid to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and security in effective and meaningful ways.
- Given operational security concerns, we cannot discuss further specifics at this time.
Quick facts
- Military Aid Funding
- Committed in Budget 2022: $500 million
- Total committed since January 2022: over $118 million
- Forthcoming Military Aid
- Canada is finalizing contracts for a number of commercial pattern armoured vehicles, and a service contract for the maintenance and repair of specialized drone cameras that Canada has already supplied to Ukraine
- Military Aid Provided since January 2022
- $75 million dollars in funds to source military equipment requested by Ukraine, including body armour, gas masks, helmets, and other highly specialized pieces of military equipment
- Anti-armour weapons systems and rocket launchers
- Almost 400,000 individual meal packs
- Small arms and ammunition
- $1 million in funding for modern satellite imagery to track the movement of Russian forces
- Heavy artillery from existing Canadian Armed Forces inventory
- Military Equipment Provided From 2015 to January 2022
- Body armour
- Mobile field hospital
- Communications gear
- Explosive disposal equipment
Operation unifier
- In 2015, Canada launched Operation UNIFIER in response to requests from the government of Ukraine, with the intent to help Ukraine remain sovereign, secure, and stable.
- The mission was renewed in 2017, 2019, and most recently in January 2022, through to March 2025.
- The Canadian Armed Forces has been providing Ukrainian security forces with specialized training, to support their professionalization, to help improve their capability and capacity, and to assist them in their efforts to align with NATO standards and practices.
- Activities include advising and assisting with: unit- and brigade-level tactical training; combat engineer training such as improvised explosive device disposal and explosive ordnance disposal; sniper training; reconnaissance training; and medical training. They also include Ukrainian junior officers and non-commissioned officer personnel development initiatives in various schools and academies.
- The Canadian Armed Forces coordinates its efforts with the United States and other countries that support Ukraine in similar ways. The training mission harmonizes its efforts with other nations through a Multinational Joint Commission (MJC). The MJC includes Canada, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark, Slovakia and Sweden.
- National Defence also provides institutional level support to help advance Ukraine’s defence reform process. Current support is focused on:
- Defence governance, including command and control;
- Professional development and professional military education reform;
- Defence procurement; and,
- Defence policy.
- From 2014 to 2022, Canada supplied defensive military gear to Ukraine.
- In 2021, Operation UNIFIER saw the first ever Canadian female-to-female transfer of command authority.
NATO Response to russian agression
- On March 2, 2022, NATO members rejected imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
Travel to Ukraine
- Global Affairs Canada is recommending against any travel to Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. Travel to these countries for Canadian Armed Forces members is prohibited as per Chief of the Defence Staff Travel Guidance signed March 23, 2022.
Donation of divested military equipment
- Parliamentarians have expressed an interest through Question Period and House Committees regarding providing Ukraine with divested military vehicles including Bison, Tracked Light Armoured Vehicles, and Coyotes.
- An adjournment debate on the subject in upcoming, but has not yet been scheduled. The deadline is June 14, 2022.
International Criminal Court investigation – war crimes in Ukraine
- On March 2, 2022, the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened an investigation into the alleged war crimes in
- The scope of the investigation encompasses any past and present allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed on any part of the territory of Ukraine by any person from November 21, 2013 onwards.
- 41 States Parties, including Canada, referred the situation to the ICC for investigation.
- Canada is sending additional RCMP personnel to the ICC under the framework of the Canadian Police Arrangement, jointly managed by Public Safety Canada, the RCMP, and Global Affairs Canada.
- Canadian investigators will be assigned to teams working to end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. These members have the experience and expertise necessary to collect evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which may be used in a subsequent prosecution.
Supporting Ukrainian Refugees and Displaced Persons (IRCC)
- As part of the Government of Canada’s response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced immigration measures to support Ukrainians, wherever they may be.
- In mid-January, IRCC implemented measures to priority- process applications for travel documents for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members, and grant applications for adoption, and permanent and temporary residence applications for people with a primary residence in Ukraine who want to reunite or travel with family, study, work or start a new life in Canada.
- On February 24, Canada announced additional and immediate measures to help people affected by the ongoing situation in Ukraine, including making it easier and faster for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and their accompanying immediate family members to return to Canada. These new measures include:
- Establishing a dedicated service channel for Ukraine enquiries on immigration;
- Urgent processing of travel documents, including issuing single-journey travel documents for immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who do not have valid passports;
- Ensuring that Ukrainians currently in Canada are able to extend their stay or work longer in Canada by prioritizing the renewal of work and study permits;
- Issuing open work permits to Ukrainian visitors, workers, and students who are currently in Canada and cannot go home; and
- Waiving fees for travel and immigration documents, such as for Canadian passports, permanent resident travel documents, proofs of citizenship, visitor visas and work and study permits.
- On March 3, new immigration streams were announced for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada temporarily or permanently, such as:
- a Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), available for an Ukrainian nationals.
- For immediate and extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, IRCC is also implementing a special family reunification sponsorship pathway for permanent residence.
- On March 17, the CUAET was launched, providing Ukrainians and their immediate family members of any nationality the opportunity to stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to three years, and are eligible for a free open work permit or study permit, allowing them to take a job with almost any Canadian employer or enroll in an education program in Canada.
- Ukrainian workers, students or visitors and their immediate family members who are already in Canada can also benefit from these measures by either applying to extend their visitor status or work permit by up to three years, or by applying for a new work or study permit. IRCC will waive all extension and permit applications fees.
- Over the last several weeks, IRCC has been working closely with other government departments, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, and others across the Ukrainian-Canadian community to ensure that all measures meet the needs of Ukrainians and their communities. IRCC will continue to engage with provinces and territories, and other partners as to how they can contribute and support the effort.
Supplementary messages
- The chancery of Canada’s Embassy in Kyiv, including the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office has been temporarily closed as of February 9, 2022. Visa application centres in Kyiv and Lviv have been closed since February 24.
- IRCC continues to deliver immigration services through its global integrated network. IRCC has increased operational readiness in Europe, including relocating staff and moving additional supplies and equipment, such as mobile biometric collection kits, in anticipation of an increased volume of requests.
- Online options are available for most applications.
- Between January 1, 2022 and March 13, 2022, over 5,728 applications from Ukrainian citizens or residents have been approved. This includes: 2,580 temporary residence applications, 1,567 applications for permanent residence, and 1,548 extensions of temporary residence documents.
- I have issued a class-based national interest exemption to allow unvaccinated and partially vaccinated Ukrainian nationals and their family members who hold a temporary resident visa or permit to enter Canada. This also applies to people who are vaccinated with vaccines not currently recognized by Canada. These individuals will be subject to all other public health requirements to protect the health of Canadians.
- Conversations are ongoing between the Government of Canada, provinces and territories and key organizations across the country on how we can best support Ukrainian arrivals.
- Ukrainians coming to Canada as permanent residents, including through the special Family Reunification Pathway, will be eligible for IRCC- funded settlement services, such as employment-related services and language training, so they can succeed in and contribute to Canada over the long term.
- Ukrainians arriving through the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) measure are expected to remain in Canada on a temporary basis. While they will not receive IRCC funded settlement services, these individuals may be eligible to receive settlement and social services from partners who play a key role in supporting temporary residents, including provincial and territorial governments.
If pressed on Ukraine’s request for visa liberalization:
- Canada and Ukraine enjoy a close friendship built on shared values and strong people-to-people connections.
- Similar to Canada’s like-minded partners, Canada considers a range of factors before lifting a country’s visa requirement.
- Our relationship Ukraine is indeed a key factor, but so is the safety and security of Canadians, and the importance of maintaining a well- managed migration system.
- We already have a number of effective immigration solutions that we believe will help Ukrainians.
- Canada’s visa approach is in line with that of the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand.
- Ukraine’s visa requirement is not currently under review. We are actively monitoring the situation to support the people of Ukraine.
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:
- A preliminary analysis of Ukraine’s country conditions indicate that a review of the visa requirement would be challenging.
- Canada and Ukraine have a dedicated channel through which to discuss the visa requirement, and other migration matters of mutual interest, via the Canada-Ukraine Mobility Working Group (CUMWG).
Reinforcing Eastern flank allies
- Proud to be the framework nation for the enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia.
- Canada is deploying approximately 1,375 troops to NATO’s eastern flank through Operation REASSURANCE.
- An additional approximately 3,400 CAF personnel are ready to deploy to support NATO, if required.
Supplementary messages
- On March 8, the Prime Minister announced that Canada will renew its commitment to Operation REASSURANCE beyond 2023.
- NATO is enhancing its resilience along the eastern flank, and responding in a united and resolute manner to Russia’s aggression.
- Canada continues to fully support NATO’s prudent military planning and a strengthened deterrence and defence posture on the eastern flank.
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
- Operation REASSURANCE is Canada’s largest international military operation with approximately 1,375 deployed personnel.
- Canada is the Framework Nation for eFP Latvia, with around 695 troops.
- Canada contributes two frigates and approximately 500 members of the Royal Canadian Navy to the Standing NATO Maritime Groups (SNMGs).
- Op REASSURANCE also includes the rotational deployment of six CF-18 fighter jets and up to 135 members of the Royal Canadian Air Force to NATO air policing efforts. Next rotation will be in summer 2022. On February 22, it was announced that a CP-140 Aurora long range patrol aircraft was re-tasked under NATO command and control.
- In addition, approximately 3,400 CAF personnel across all branches of the service are authorized to deploy to the NATO Response Force (NRF), if required.
- On April 15, 100 CAF troops were deployed to Poland to assist with processing Ukrainian refugees and provide medical support services. Up to 150 troops are authorized to deploy.
- Recent visits of Camp Ādaži in Latvia include the PM (MAR/22), MND (FEB/22), MINA (NOV/21).
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
- Global Affairs Canada is providing 24/7 consular services to Canadians, permanent residents, and their families via our network of diplomatic missions in Eastern Europe and the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.
- High-level engagements between Canada and the countries neighbouring Ukraine have facilitated the departure of most Canadians who can now cross the Ukrainian border without a visa.
- Global Affairs Canada consular work is focussing on three lines of effort: ongoing communications with Canadians, direct delivery of services, and diplomatic engagement with neighbouring countries.
Supplementary messages
- Dual nationals are deemed to be Ukrainians and are subject to all laws and orders affecting nationals, including military conscription orders that do not allow the departure of Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60.
- Consular services are offered to dual nationals affected by Ukraine military conscription orders.
- The Government of Canada has grave concerns for the safety of anyone travelling into Ukraine for any purpose, including to take part in the conflict.
- The Government of Canada may not be able to provide any assistance to Canadian citizens who join militias or armies and are injured or captured.
- The Government of Canada does not give legal advice to Canadian citizens seeking to take part in foreign conflicts. Any individual considering doing so, should seek advice on the potential legal consequences.
Background
Communications
- The Travel Advisory for Ukraine recommends that Canadians avoid all travel and recommends to those in Ukraine to shelter in place and move to safer locations when they assess the situation sufficiently safe.
- The Russia Travel Advisory recommends that Canadians avoid all travel.
- The Belarus Travel Advisory recommends that Canadians avoid all travel.
- The Emergency Watch and Response Centre provides 24/7 consular support, and can be contacted via telephone, e-mail, text message, WhatsApp, and live chat.
- Global Affairs Canada launched a crisis website that provides information on Ukrainian borders and public health requirements.
Canadians Travelling to Fight in Ukraine
- On Febuary 27, 2022, President Zelensky announced that Ukraine was establishing a foreign international legion for volunteers from abroad (International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine).
- In a March 15 interview with CTV, Damien Magrou, spokesperson for the Legion, revealed that Canadians comprise one of the largest groups in the unit after the United States and Britain. The exact number is unknown.
- The Travel Advisory for Ukraine highlights the risk of engaging in combat in Ukraine: “Your safety is at high risk, particularly if you engage in active combat.”
C. AEFA study on Global Affairs Canada
MODERNIZING CANADIAN DIPLOMACY (FIT-FOR- PURPOSE)
- In an increasingly complex international landscape, unprecedented global threats and issues have repercussions for Canada’s international and domestic agendas.
- It is in this context that my mandate letter asks me to lead Canada in addressing global challenges, including by “strengthening Canada’s diplomatic capacity”.
- Global Affairs Canada is always looking at how best it can adapt, improve and remain fit-for-purpose to continue to protect and advance Canada’s interests and values.
- We welcome the work of this committee as it undertakes its own timely and critical study of the Canadian Foreign Service and elements of the foreign policy machinery within GAC.
Supplementary messages
- Global Affairs Canada will be undertaking an internal review of certain aspects of the organization and policy framework, to strengthen Canada’s diplomatic capacity so that it remains fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world.
- This targeted exercise will focus on 4 pillars: People, Policy Capacity, Technological and Digital Capacity, and Global Presence.
- Through this initiative, the department will aim to develop measures that are implementable, and ensure the organization remains well equipped to fulfill its mandate in the long term.
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: