Quebec has said it is ready to welcome Ukrainian refugees and on Thursday offered its “full cooperation” to the Canadian government in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Quebec strongly condemns Russian aggression in Ukraine. We sincerely hope to see a ceasefire quickly. The federal government can count on our full cooperation in the efforts it will undertake in this regard, ”wrote the Prime Minister, François Legault, on his Facebook page.
“Quebec will do its part to welcome Ukrainian refugees in the weeks and months to come. We also stand ready to offer humanitarian material assistance whenever possible. »
At the National Assembly, the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, argued that Quebec could also free up additional sums in its March 22 budget to build up reserves to deal with the “uncertainty” that threatens the economy. world.
“We always have a certain margin of caution. There, to the extent that there is more uncertainty, it might be necessary to have larger reserves,” he agreed.
The Minister of International Relations, Nadine Girault, for her part declared that Quebec would “support all the actions that the federal government will take”. There is no question for the moment of asking the Russian diplomats installed here to leave Quebec. “We won’t go over to that side, but what we’re going to say, on the other hand, is that we’re going to be [en appui] federal measures. Is the [soutient] 100% in this context, ”she said.
The Minister said that she would rely on the Ministry of the Economy to make a decision about trade between Quebec and Russia.
The Minister of the Economy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, for his part pointed out that Quebec’s trade relations with Russia are negligible. He said his concerns were more “at the macroeconomic level.”
“It’s not big business that we have with them,” said the elected CAQ in the corridors of parliament. He said he expects the main sanctions imposed on the Kremlin to come from Ottawa.
As for the Government of Quebec, it could decide to impose a boycott of Russian products in its state companies, such as the Société des alcools du Québec, Mr. Fitzgibbon raised. “We are going to follow international developments,” contented himself with saying the minister responsible, Eric Girard, on this subject.
Trudeau ‘strongly’ condemns attack
“Canada strongly condemns Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement late Wednesday night.
In a tweet on his Twitter account, Mr. Trudeau denounced “another flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and of Russia’s obligations under international law and the Charter of the United Nations”. .
Canada strongly condemns Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine – another flagrant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and of Russia’s obligations under international law and the United Nations Charter. United Nations.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 24, 2022
As other countries have done, including at an emergency UN Security Council meeting held at the same time as the assault was launched, Trudeau urged Russia “to immediately end any hostile and provocative action against Ukraine. It also calls on it to withdraw all of its military forces from the country”.
The Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae, also called the outcome a “grotesque war crime”.
Canada has a large Ukrainian diaspora and many people are worried about their loved ones in their country of origin.
“The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected, and the Ukrainian people must be free to determine their own future,” Prime Minister Trudeau said in his statement.
The Canadian Prime Minister will take part in an emergency G7 meeting on Thursday morning, which will also be attended by United States President Joe Biden.
“…and we will continue to work quickly and closely with NATO and our allies to provide a collective response to these irresponsible and dangerous acts, including through the imposition of significant sanctions in addition to those we have already announced,” said Justin Trudeau.
“We stand in solidarity with Ukraine, its people and the Ukrainian-Canadian community here in Canada. The outrageous acts of Russia will not go unpunished,” he concluded.
Joly contacted the ambassador
For her part, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, met with the Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine, Larisa Galadza.
On social media, she wrote: “The team is safe and the Embassy will provide consular services to Canadians from Lviv for as long as possible. If you need help in Ukraine, contact us at [email protected]”.
However, early Thursday, CBC revealed that according to its sources, the Canadian embassy in Ukraine had been closed and employees had left the country as Russian troops began their advance.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper also posted a message on Twitter. He first wrote that he was praying for the people of Ukraine and recalled that the conflict was predictable because President Putin’s war in Ukraine began in 2014. He called on NATO member countries to respect their commitments and asserts that the Russian president and his allies must be treated like the international pariahs they have chosen to become.
— With The Canadian Press