OTTAWA -- Just as Canada hit Russia with its latest round of sanctions, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Defence Minister Anita Anand were named among hundreds of Canadians Russia is banning, in retaliation for supporting Ukraine.
According on the Russian foreign ministry's website, numerous members of Parliament and other Canadians in leadership positions at various organizations are now on the 鈥渟top list鈥� or 鈥渂lack list鈥� of foreigners that will be denied entry to the Russian Federation.
This move was taken in part because of Canada鈥檚 continued sanctions on Russia, according to the foreign ministry, who said it was targeting 鈥渢op officials, parliamentarians and anti-Russian figures in Canada.鈥�
鈥淭his step is forced and taken in response to the outrageous hostility of the current Canadian regime, which has tested our patience for so long,鈥� reads the statement.
Reacting to the move, Trudeau鈥檚 office said the only response from Russia it is interested in is an immediate end to the 鈥渋llegal, unnecessary war.鈥�
鈥淯ntil then, Canada and our allies will continue imposing crippling sanctions on Putin and his enablers,鈥� his office said.
The Russian foreign ministry has named 313 Canadians in total, including Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre and a handful of other federal cabinet ministers.
Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Sean Fraser who rolled out a series of measures earlier this month aimed at making it easier for some of the millions of Ukrainians who have fled the Russian attacks in their country to come to Canada, was named.
International Trade Minister Mary Ng; Minister for Family, Children and Social Development of Canada Karina Gould; Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino; Treasury Board President Mona Fortier, Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan also made the list.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland was already barred from Russia, as is a list of other politicians and diplomats, dating back to sanctions imposed as a result of Russia鈥檚 2014 annexation of Crimea.
In addition to the cabinet ministers, there are 116 Liberal MPs on the list, including Rob Oliphant who is the parliamentary secretary to the foreign affairs minister, and House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota.
Almost all of the current roster of Conservative MPs are on the list鈥�112 in total鈥攊ncluding interim Leader Candice Bergen, foreign affairs critic Michael Chong, as well as leadership contenders Pierre Poilievre and Leslyn Lewis.
Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and 28 of his party鈥檚 MPs, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and 16 other New Democrats, and the two Green MPs Elizabeth May and Mike Morrice also made the list.
MPs took the news in stride, with many tweeting that they will continue to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 actions, with some saying they will wear the ban as a badge of honour.
Alexandra Chyczij, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress also shrugged off being banned, issuing a
Chyczij is among several Canadians across the country who hold leadership positions with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress that were banned. Russia also targeted members on the board of, and donors to the Memorial to Victims of Communism.
to put U.S. President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, former secretary of state and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and other top officials on the 鈥渟top list.鈥�
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