A quartet of local MPs are among more than 300 Canadians who have been blacklisted by the Russian Federation.
Today, the Russian Foreign Ministry released the names of 313 Canadians banned from entering the country. On that list are Doug Shipley, the MP for Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte, and John Brassard, the MP for Barrie-Innisfil, join Simcoe North MP Adam Chambers and Simcoe-Grey MP Terry Dowdall.
The blacklist also includes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly and Minister of National Defence Anita Anand, as well as most MPs.
The list was released the same morning that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talked to Canadian Parliament.
"I'm kind of surprised it's gotten to this level," said Dowdall, who is in Alberta touring transportation links. "I think it's somewhat of a badge of honour ... I certainly stand with the people of Ukraine."
Dowdall watched Zelenskyy's address live this morning via video and said it hit home for him. Zelenskyy told Canada's parliament that 97 children have been killed in the war so far since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
"I think it puts it into perspective ... we're a democratic country, and hearing about families torn apart ... children dying, it certainly hit home for me," said Dowdall. "We need to be prepared."
Though Zelenskyy's words did impact Dowdall, the Russian sanctions against him won't change much for him.
"I wasn't planning on going to Russia anytime soon," said Dowdall.
In addition to Canada’s MPs, the list released by the Russian Foreign Ministry today includes James Temerty, founder of the Temerty Foundation, which is a charity supporting health, humanitarian aid, anti-human trafficking initiatives, education, and life-skills development primarily for children in Ukraine.
Journalist and documentary filmmaker, Marcus Kolga, who is also a leading Canadian expert on Russian and Central and Eastern European issues, has been named on the blacklist. He is also known for spearheading Black Ribbon Day to mark the anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact as a Canadian national day of remembrance for the European victims of Nazism and communism.
Board members and donors associated with a memorial to victims of communism (Tribute to Liberty) currently under construction in Ottawa have been included in the list of Canadians banned from Russia.
Members of the Canadian Ukrainian Congress have also been blacklisted.
Canada has sent military supplies to Ukraine, issued sanctions against Russia and closed Canadian airspace to Russian-owned aircraft.
Prior to Zelenskyy’s address to Parliament this morning, Joly announced that Canada is sanctioning another 15 Russian politicians and military leaders.
There are now more than 780 individuals in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus on Canada's sanction list, and 203 entities including banks.
- With files from Maija Hoggett
