Russian sanctions won’t deter Canadian officials
Posted Mar 24, 2014 5:02 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other G7 leaders have announced they are suspending their participation in the G8 until Russia changes its course over the crisis in Ukraine.
The announcement comes as the Russian government retaliates against Canadian sanctions by banning 13 MP’s and officials from the country.
At an emergency meeting at The Hague in the Netherlands, the G7 leaders issued a joint statement condemning Russia’s illegal occupation of the Crimean Region.
The leaders say they will continue to meet without Russia, and are prepared to “intensify actions” if Moscow escalates this conflict further.
Meanwhile, Government House Leader Peter Van Loan said he is not bothered by the fact he is one of 8 MP’s banned from stepping foot in Russia.
“I look at the context of the sanctions against me as quite light compared to the issues that are at stake, freedom, democracy, the values that we stand for, and the very dangerous threat that Putin and his regime represent for Russia,” said Van Loan.
The Speaker of the House of Commons is also on the list with MPs from all parties who have been vocal about this crisis.
The government said these sanctions won’t deter it from trying to defend Ukrainian sovereignty.
