Question Period Note: Military support for Ukraine

What is this Government doing to support Ukraine against Russia’s attack on its sovereignty?

• Canada is working closely with our Allies and partners to help Ukraine protect its sovereignty and defend itself against Russia’s illegal attack.

• Recently, the Prime Minister announced that Canada will provide $500 million in additional military aid to Ukraine, which builds upon the $626 million in military aid that we have committed since February 2022.

• This includes drone cameras, body armour, winter clothing, satellite imagery and communications services, artillery and small arms ammunition, and other highly specialized equipment.

• Additionally, we have committed to supplying Ukraine with 39 new armoured combat support vehicles, several shipments of which have already arrived.

• We have also resumed training of UAF members in third country locations under Operation UNIFIER. Prior to the invasion, we had already trained over 33,000 members of Ukraine’s security forces.

• We continue to analyze options to provide further aid to support Ukraine in meaningful ways and will continue to communicate our support to Canadians.

If pressed on the provision of further military aid:

• Canada stands with Ukraine and we are exploring a variety of options to continue providing Ukraine with comprehensive military assistance.

• Since early in the conflict, we have provided tactical airlift to support Canada, our allies, and partners’ efforts to deliver important donations to Ukraine.

• We have expanded this contribution by deploying a third tactical aircraft, as well as additional support personnel to our Air Mobility Detachment in Prestwick, Scotland.

• To date, the detachment’s personnel have delivered approximately 5 million pounds of cargo, largely consisting of military aid in support of Ukraine.

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

If pressed on tracking military aid provided to Ukraine:

• Ukraine’s Armed Forces have signed a declaration with National Defence that all weapons provided will not be transferred to any other entity.

Quick Facts

• More than $1 billion in military aid committed to Ukraine, including all of the $500 million announced in Budget 2022 for new purchases and over $50M in donations from CAF inventory.

• Military Aid Provided since February 2022

  • Military equipment requested by Ukraine, including body armour, gas masks, helmets, and other highly specialized pieces of military equipment

  • Anti-armour weapons systems and rocket launchers

  • Almost 400,000 individual meal packs

  • Small arms and ammunition

  • Heavy artillery, including M777 Howitzers and related ammunition

  • Drone cameras

  • High-resolution satellite imagery

• Military Equipment provided from 2015 to January 2022 includes body armour, mobile field hospital, communications gear, and explosive disposal equipment.

Background

Report to Parliament on Actions Taken to Support Ukraine

• In response to an April 2022 unanimous consent motion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs tabled a report on Government of Canada actions to support Ukraine on August 17, 2022.

• In addition to outlining military aid, the report also provides an overview of economic aid and efforts to track crimes against humanity and war crimes to ensure that Russia is held accountable.

• National Defence continues to provide an updated list of Canadian military support to Ukraine on the National Defence website: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/campaigns/canadian-military-support-to-ukraine.html

Donation of Armoured Vehicles

• 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.

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

• Additionally, in early August 2022, Canada finalized a procurement contract to supply Ukraine with 39 armoured combat support vehicles. Several shipments of vehicles have already arrived in Europe, and related training commenced on October 10, 2022. The contract with General Dynamics also includes elements for repairs and servicing.

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