Canada is committed to using its international assistance to support in securing Ukraine’s future as a democratic, rules-based state that delivers security, prosperity, and freedom for all its citizens.
RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE
York Region has developed a website that provides a comprehensive list of resources for people affected by the conflict in Ukraine. This is useful to Ukrainians arriving and Canadians wanting to help.
CANADA’S INTERVENTIONS
Economic Sanctions
Canada is the first country to revoke Russia’s and Belarus’s “Most Favoured Nation” status as trading partners under Canadian law, subjecting them to a tariff of 35 percent on virtually all of their exports to Canada.
The export of certain goods and technologies to Russia has been prohibited to undermine the capabilities of the Russian military.
Canada also blocked export permits for shipments to Russia, cutting them off from access to aerospace, machinery, and other Canadian technologies. Minister Joly also announced the cancellation of existing valid export permits.
In collaboration with our allies, Canada has taken steps to cripple Putin’s funding for his illegal war in Ukraine. This includes:
Placing sanctions on the Russian Central Bank and 27 other Russian financial institutions;
Imposing an asset freeze and a dealings prohibition on Russian sovereign wealth funds; and
Removing Russian banks from the international SWIFT payments system.
Military Equipment and Support
Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $274 million in military equipment to support Ukraine.
Canada has renewed its multi-year commitment to Operation REASSURANCE to support NATO’s assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe. Our current contributions include approximately 1,455 Canadian Armed Forces Members, making it Canada’s largest military operation.
Humanitarian Aid
To date in 2022, Canada has committed over $245 million in humanitarian assistance to respond to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. This funding will provide our experienced UN, Red Cross, and NGO humanitarian partners the flexibility to adapt their responses and support the population as needs evolve. This includes the provision of
emergency basic health services
safe drinking water
food assistance
essential relief items
shelter
Immigration Measures
Canada has extended temporary status and issued open work permits to Ukrainian visitors, workers and students who are in Canada and cannot go home.
The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) was launched for individuals fleeing Ukraine and offers safe harbour for up to three years. As of May 25, 2022, Canada approved more than 120,000 applications through CUAET.
Canada is also providing short-term income support and temporary hotel accommodation for up to two weeks for Ukrainian refugees entering Canada as well as transitional financial assistance for displaced Ukrainians in Canada, including a one-time payment of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child (17 years and under).
The Government of Canada is making an appeal to Canadian businesses interested in providing support to displaced Ukrainians arriving in Canada and has launched the Canadian Industry for Ukraine donation portal. https://bit.ly/3It9pLd
Canada will be sending more troops to Latvia as part of a pledge to upgrade and strengthen the NATO battlegroup it is leading there, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday.
The Canadian-led NATO battlegroup is made up of about 2,000 troops, including 700 Canadians, and is one of eight such units based in eastern Europe designed to deter and defend against any Russian invasion.
The Canada-led battlegroup is the most multinational battlegroup in NATO, which Trudeau described as an advantage that could serve as a model for others.
In Latvia, we are actually redefining a concept that is so important to NATO which is interoperability,
To that end, the prime minister on Thursday announced more military equipment for Ukraine, saying Canada is in the final stages of talks to supply Ukraine with up to 39 armoured combat support vehicles to help it fight off Russia.
He also pledged to give Ukraine six Canadian-made drone cameras, to complement the roughly 50 cameras sent earlier this year.
Trudeau said his government's decision to send drone cameras and armoured combat vehicles was based on conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his government's ministers, who asked for these types of military equipment.
At the Summit, the Prime Minister announced that Canada will bolster its military deployment in Latvia by augmenting NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) mission there. Canada will continue to lead NATO’s eFP Battle Group as the Framework Nation, and will develop a sustainable plan in coordination with Latvia in the near-term to be able to surge a combat-capable brigade into the country. Canada will work closely with Latvia, NATO and Allies to generate and deploy forces and invest in infrastructure and training areas to support the increase of troops. This announcement builds on Canada’s leadership role and existing contributions in Latvia over the last five years.
In addition, Canada will increase its diplomatic presence and network in Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, including a new embassy in Armenia, converting current Canadian offices in Estonia, Lithuania, and Slovakia to full embassies with resident ambassadors and strengthening our presence at our embassy in Latvia.
Canada is also providing two CC-130 Hercules aircraft, operating out of the United Kingdom, to support Allies’ bilateral donations to Ukrain
“In the face of Russia’s ongoing attack on Ukraine – an attack on democracy, human rights, freedom, and security everywhere – NATO has reaffirmed its enduring transatlantic bond. NATO Allies are united and determined to uphold the Alliance’s values, and to strengthen our defensive alliance, for now and for the future.”
The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada