Canada should immediately block the shipment of five other turbines for the Russian gas pipeline from Montreal, begs the ambassador of Ukraine to the country, who asks his ally to show “courage”.
“It is now clear that the five additional turbines will be refused [par la Russie]adding to the humiliation,” said Ukrainian Ambassador to Canada Yuliia Kovaliv.
She was invited to address the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in Ottawa, which was examining on Thursday Canada’s decision to allow the export of Siemens turbines, destined for the Russian company Gazprom for its Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline.
The representative of the Ukrainian government strongly criticized this decision, describing it as a “dangerous precedent”, which “violates international solidarity”, and “contrary to the rule of law”.
“Russia’s ability to wage war is based on its oil and gas revenues. The reason Canada, and the other allies, have imposed sanctions is to strip Russia of these revenues. »
She pointed out that the Gazprom company did not finally not even resumed the first turbine sent by Canada, which is currently believed to be stuck in Germany. The Canadian government would have fallen into the trap of Vladimir Putin, according to her, contrary to the claims of the Trudeau government.
“Russia has not restored the flow of gas, and is asking for more concessions,” also underlined before the committee the president of the Congress of Ukrainian-Canadians, Alexandra Chyczij.
“It is not too late to remit these sanctions. It is a revocable licence, and it can still be revoked. »
The government justifies its decision
Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, clarified that it was not just one, but six turbines from the Siemens company that Canada allowed to be exported over a two-year period. This exception to the sanctions against Russia takes the form of a permit that the government can withdraw at any time.
Minister Joly did not indicate anything suggesting that she would revoke this permit in her answers to questions from the members of the committee. His colleague Minister of Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, also took part in the meeting.
The latter added that the Siemens plant in Montreal was the only one in the world that could do this kind of maintenance work on the turbines. The ministers, who say they talk to each other “almost every day” about Europe’s energy security, justified the exception for Siemens turbines, a decision that was “difficult to make”.
They argued that the move “removed Putin’s excuse” to cut off European gas, as well as representing “a sign of support” for his German and European allies. This was consistent with Canada’s sanctions on Russia, according to Minister Wilkinson, since these are designed “to punish Putin, not to jeopardize Europe’s energy security”.
Germany’s ambassador to Canada, Sabine Sparwasser, welcomed the move, making similar arguments to those put forward by the Canadian government. According to his view of things, Germany is already doing everything in its power to reduce its dependence on Russian gas.
According to her, the sanctions imposed by Canada on Russia are much broader than those put in place by Germany, the European Union or the United States, which exclude industrial equipment linked to the transport of gas.
” [Les sanctions] must not harm us any more than they harm Russian interests,” insisted the German ambassador.
More Canadian gas in Europe
Canada’s sanctions against Russia for its illegal invasion of Ukraine are consensus among all parties represented in the House of Commons. The various opposition parties have all indicated that they want to increase, not decrease, these sanctions.
Conservative MP James Bezan said the decision to allow the turbines to be sent for Gazprom is a “disgrace” for Canada.
“You have to explain to the French and the Germans and the Europeans how they are going to survive this winter! “replied Minister Wilkinson in a flight, during one of the few cacophonous moments of the appearance.
According to the vision of the Minister of Natural Resources, Canada could not until now sell natural gas to Europe at a price competitive with cheap Russian gas. The situation would however be changing with the invasion of Ukraine.
“We are working on possibilities [de projets] of LNG [gaz naturel liquéfié] on the east coast,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, who also promises to send 300,000 barrels of oil and gas to Europe this year.
In a joint conference with her German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday, Minister Mélanie Joly also said that she had had “discussions with Germany on the level of various energy projects” such as liquefied natural gas.