In a joint statement June 8, Canada also joined Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the United States to announce that they are resuming some work at the Arctic Council, after a “pause” the countries had announced March 3, in response to the Feb. 24 escalation of the illegal invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the council’s current chair and an Arctic Council member.
“We intend to implement a limited resumption of our work in the Arctic Council on projects that do not involve the participation of the Russian Federation,” the seven countries announced. “These projects, contained in the work plan approved by all eight Arctic states at the Reykjavik ministerial, are a vital component of our responsibility to the peoples of the Arctic, including Indigenous peoples.”
The Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Department of Commerce — Bureau of Industry and Security, also jointly announced June 7 that they are “strengthening” their enforcement of their border controls via “a joint commitment to leverage our authorities and resources to detect, deter, and stop violations of export controls and to ensure compliance with laws and regulations. Together, we will share information; conduct pre- and post-shipment verifications and audits; inspect, detain, and seize shipments; and reduce threats through coordinated enforcement actions and investigations.”
The Canada/U.S. move is said to be aimed, in part, to stop the evasion of a U.S. ban on selling defence technology and other sensitive U.S. goods to Russia by using Canada as a base from which to order goods, and then send them on for Russian use.
On June 8, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced as well Canada’s latest round of economic sanctions, effective June 7, targeting enablers of Russia’s war of aggression: a ban on Canadian exports to Russia of 28 services “vital for the operation of the oil, gas and chemical industries, including technical, management, accounting and advertising services,” according to a Global Affairs statement.
The federal government said the ban imposed under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations targets an industry that makes up roughly half of the Russian Federation’s federal budget revenues.
Ottawa said its latest sanctions “apply further pressure” on Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, “to immediately withdraw his forces from Ukrainian soil.”
“These measures will reduce Russia’s ability to wage war and will send a clear message to the Russian regime: Canada will not back down in holding those responsible for the devastation in Ukraine to account,” Joly said in a statement. “Canada will continue to work with its like minded partners in the international community to co-ordinate further measures.”
Ottawa said that since Russia’s illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 1,500 individuals and entities — many in co-ordination with allies and partners.
Since Russia’s escalation of force in Ukraine on Feb. 24, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 1,070 individuals and entities from, and in, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus — as well as referring allegations of atrocities committed by Russian forces, including alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, to the International Criminal Court.
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