Battle River-Crowfoot MP Damien Kurek, along with most Canadian MPs, was banned from travelling to Russia and other sanctions in a retaliatory move on March 15.
The Russian government imposed sanctions against most Canadian Parliamentarians and Ukrainian Canadian leaders. The sanctions came on the same day Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Canadian Parliament via Zoom in a special sitting.
“I consider this a badge of honour, and you can be sure these threats won’t stop me from continuing to stand up for what’s right,” Kurek said in a Facebook post later that day.
“The people of Ukraine deserve their sovereignty, and Putin and the Russian government need to be held accountable.”
The Government of Russia imposed the sanctions following action by the Canadian government against Russia and in support of Ukraine.
The Conservative Party is calling for even more action, including the immediate ban of Russian oil imports.
“Canada has enough energy to fuel Canada and Europe. There is no reason that we should be importing Russian oil products, and there is no reason we shouldn’t build the infrastructure to help ensure Europe doesn’t need the help of Russia either,” said Kurek in a press release.
“The people of Ukraine deserve their sovereignty and the ability to live in peace, and Putin and the Russian government need to be held accountable for their aggression. It is Canada’s responsibility to do whatever we can to ensure this happens.”
Canada, along with other European allies, have committed military aid to Ukraine, and have imposed sanctions on Russia.
On March 17, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that Canada would be imposing further sanctions against Russia under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations.
These new measures will impose restrictions on 32 entities working in Russia’s defence sector and on five current and former Russian senior officials and associates of the regime.
“Russia’s ongoing illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine is not going unpunished,” said Trudeau in a press release. “Canada will continue to stand alongside our European allies and partners to advance our shared commitments to support Ukraine and its people, and defend democracy against authoritarianism everywhere.”