Canada shuts ports to Russian ships in widening sanctions over Ukraine invasion

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TORONTO — Canada ratcheted up strain on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine by shutting ports to Russian-owned ships and saying on Tuesday that holdings of all Russian oligarchs and firms within the nation are beneath assessment.

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Canada has introduced a slew of measures to isolate Russia, together with imposing sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, closing Canadian airspace to Russian planes, banning oil imports and forbidding Canadian monetary establishments from coping with the Russian central financial institution, appearing in tandem with different Western nations.

“Right now, we’re taking steps to shut Canadian waters and ports to Russian-owned or registered ships,” Transport Minister Omar Alghabra stated.

Alghabra stated whereas the variety of Russian ships getting into Canadian waters and ports is “small,” there’ll nonetheless be an affect, particularly with different nations doing the identical.

Russia represents lower than 2% of Port of Montreal’s annual containerized volumes, and the ban may have little industrial affect, a port spokesperson stated.

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Port of Vancouver, Canada’s busiest, stated the variety of Russian-flagged vessels calling there may be minimal. Previously, those who have traded in crude oil, canola oil and copper concentrates, a spokesperson stated.

Canada is monitoring three Russian-flagged vessels off the East Coast, certainly one of which is a cargo vessel, a authorities official advised Reuters.

Canada can be scrutinizing holdings of all Russian oligarchs and Russian corporations within the nation, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland advised reporters on Tuesday. “We’re reviewing them and every little thing is on the desk,” she added.

Canada is sending 1,600 bulletproof vests and nearly 400,000 meal rations to Ukraine.

Canada imported $2.14 billion price of products from Russia in 2021, Statistics Canada information confirmed, with metals and minerals among the many most useful classes.