Russia has re-imposed sanctions on 61 Canadians, including premiers, mayors, journalists, military personnel, and high officials in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration.
Those mentioned have been barred from entering Russia “indefinitely,” and have been placed on a “stop list,” indicating that if they attempt, they will be denied admission.
The current list, released on Thursday, includes five premiers: Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, and British Columbia Premier John Horgan.
Mayors of Toronto and Ottawa, as well as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae, and Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem, have been barred from entering Russia.
Top employees to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Defence Minister Anita Anand have also been sanctioned, as have Trudeau’s chief of staff Katie Telford and communications director Cameron Ahmad.
Russia had already sanctioned Trudeau, Freeland, and Anand, along with hundreds of other federal lawmakers, and most Canadian senators had lately joined them.
Top security and military officials were also included in Thursday’s list. Chief of the Communications Security Establishment Shelley Bruce, Maj. Gen. Steve Boivin, Commander of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Special Operations Forces, and Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy Craig Baines are among them.
The current set of penalties targets journalists and senior members of national media organisations, including CTV News and the CBC, in what looks to be a retaliation after Canada sanctioned some major Russian media players.
The persons sanctioned, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, are “actively involved in the creation, justification, and execution of the governing regime’s Russophobic course in Canada.”
In a statement released on Thursday, Russia promised that additional names will be added “in reaction to the unfriendly activities of the Government of Canada,” noting Canada’s determination to support Ukraine by sending guns and other equipment to help them combat Vladimir Putin’s unlawful assaults.
