Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Mar, 2022 10:55 AM
OTTAWA — Prime Minster Justin Trudeau says he thinks Russia's Vladimir Putin is surprised by the strength and unity of Western sanctions in retaliation for his invasion of Ukraine.
Trudeau says Putin likely never imagined that Germany would freeze its lucrative Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with Russia or decide to send anti-tank weapons and surface to air missiles to Ukraine.
The decision to provide weapons marked a historic shift in German military policy that has its roots in consigning its Second World War aggression against Europe to the dustbin of history.
Trudeau echoed what Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday — that future sanctions against Russian business interests in Canada could cause some economic "collateral damage" domestically.
He says he may look at compensating some businesses but added that allies in Europe will feel the economic effects of sanctions much more than Canada.
Trudeau spoke as the Russian aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities continued today, killing scores of civilians and forcing an estimated 870,000 people to flood into other European countries as refugees.
There are 688 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 108 are in intensive care. In the past 96 hours, 44 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,830.
Putin on Monday announced the deployment of Russian troops into two separatist regions on his country’s border with Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk. Both regions have already suffered eight years of war after Russia began providing weapons, ammunition and in some cases clandestine troops to separatist rebels in 2014.
Finance Minister Selina Robinson said Tuesday a three-year climate fund will support ongoing disaster cleanup and rebuilding in southern B.C. communities hit by last November’s floods and mudslides.
The driver was identified as 32-year-old, Zachary Wagner who had active arrest warrants out of Prince Rupert, Terrace, Sunshine Coast, Fort St John and Whitehorse. Wagner was wanted for various offences some of which included assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Bernier was arrested last June and charged with exceeding public gathering limits and violating Manitoba's requirement to self-isolate upon entering the province.
In Ontario, Western University, York University and the University of Guelph say they're keeping their COVID-19 vaccination and masking requirements in place for students and staff until at least the end of the current winter semester.
