Question Period Note: Situation in Ukraine

What is this Government doing to support Ukraine during this attack against its sovereignty?

• In the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Canada is working closely with our Allies and partners to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty and security.

• That is why Budget 2022 commits $500 million in military aid for Ukraine.

• This support is on top of our contributions of over $131 million in military aid to support Ukraine since February 2022.

• We are also providing Ukraine with drone cameras, further satellite imagery, and additional small arms and ammunition.

• We remain committed to the people of Ukraine and working with our Allies and partners to support Ukraine in meaningful ways.

If pressed on the provision of further military aid to Ukraine:

• We continue to analyze options to provide further aid to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and security in effective and meaningful ways.

• Given operational security concerns, we cannot discuss further specifics at this time.

Quick Facts *

• Military Aid Funding

  • Committed in Budget 2022: $500 million

  • Total committed since February 2022: over $131 million

• Military Aid Provided since January 2022

  • $75 million dollars in funds to source military equipment requested by Ukraine

  • Anti-armour weapons systems and rocket launchers

  • Almost 400,000 individual meal packs

  • Small arms and ammunition

  • Funding for modern satellite imagery to track the movement of Russian forces

  • Heavy artillery from existing Canadian Armed Forces inventory

  • Drone cameras

  • Armoured vehicles

• Military Equipment Provided From 2015 to January 2022

  • Body armour

  • Mobile field hospital

  • Communications gear

  • Explosive disposal equipment

Operation UNIFIER

• In 2015, Canada launched Operation UNIFIER in response to requests from the government of Ukraine, with the intent to help Ukraine remain sovereign, secure, and stable.

• The mission was renewed in 2017, 2019, and most recently in January 2022, through to March 2025.

• The Canadian Armed Forces has been providing Ukrainian security forces with specialized training, to support their professionalization, to help improve their capability and capacity, and to assist them in their efforts to align with NATO standards and practices.

• Activities include advising and assisting with: unit- and brigade-level tactical training; combat engineer training such as improvised explosive device disposal and explosive ordnance disposal; sniper training; reconnaissance training; and medical training. They also include Ukrainian junior officers and non-commissioned officer personnel development initiatives in various schools and academies.

• The Canadian Armed Forces coordinates its efforts with the United States and other countries that support Ukraine in similar ways. The training mission harmonizes its efforts with other nations through a Multinational Joint Commission (MJC). The MJC includes Canada, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark, Slovakia and Sweden.

• National Defence also provides institutional level support to help advance Ukraine’s defence reform process. Current support is focused on:

  • Defence governance, including command and control;

  • Professional development and professional military education reform;

  • Defence procurement; and,

  • Defence policy.

• From 2014 to 2022, Canada supplied defensive military gear to Ukraine.

• In 2021, Operation UNIFIER saw the first ever Canadian female-to-female transfer of command authority.

NATO Response to Russian Aggression

• On March 2, 2022, NATO members rejected imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

Travel to Ukraine

• Global Affairs Canada is recommending against any travel to Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. Travel to these countries for Canadian Armed Forces members is prohibited as per Chief of the Defence Staff Travel Guidance signed March 23, 2022.

Donation of Divested Military Equipment

• Parliamentarians have expressed an interest through Question Period and House Committees regarding providing Ukraine with divested military vehicles including Bison, Tracked Light Armoured Vehicles, and Coyotes.

• An adjournment debate on the subject in upcoming, but has not yet been scheduled. The deadline is June 14, 2022.

• On April 26, 2022, Minister Anand announced that Canada finalized a contract for the purchase of armoured vehicles manufactured by Roshel, a smart armoured vehicle company based in Mississauga, Ontario.

International Criminal Court Investigation – War Crimes in Ukraine

• On March 2, 2022, the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened an investigation into the alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

• The scope of the investigation encompasses any past and present allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed on any part of the territory of Ukraine by any person from November 21, 2013 onwards.

• 41 States Parties, including Canada, referred the situation to the ICC for investigation.

• Canada is sending additional RCMP personnel to the ICC under the framework of the Canadian Police Arrangement, jointly managed by Public Safety Canada, the RCMP, and Global Affairs Canada.

• Canadian investigators will be assigned to teams working to end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. These members have the experience and expertise necessary to collect evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which may be used in a subsequent prosecution.

Responsible Principals: Strategic Joint Staff, Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy)