Sanctions and aid for Ukraine
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to sanction and exclude Russia (including SWIFT), boycott Russian oil and gas, provide military and humanitarian aid, and expedite family reunification for refugees. The government responds it condemns Russia, has applied sanctions and provided military and humanitarian aid, and implemented temporary immigration measures for Ukrainians.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would increase diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia, potentially deterring further aggression by isolating its government and financial networks.
- Supplying military and humanitarian aid can help Ukraine defend territory and address urgent civilian needs, reducing suffering and protecting human rights.
- Fast-tracking family reunification and refugee aid provides immediate safety to affected families and lets Canadians bring relatives to safety while the conflict continues.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Comprehensive sanctions and SWIFT removal could escalate tensions, risk retaliation, or indirectly harm civilians and global markets.
- Excluding Russia from international organisations may be impractical, hinder diplomatic channels, and weaken multilateral forums needed for conflict resolution.
- Military support and energy boycotts carry economic and operational costs, may complicate energy supplies, and could have unintended consequences; targeted diplomacy might offer alternatives.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons Whereas: Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the rule of law and respect for human rights and democracy; The Putin regime invaded and occupied Crimea and the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine in 2014, leading to the death of more than 14,000 Ukrainians; The Government of Canada, NATO allies, and the European Union unanimously condemned the 2014 invasion of Ukraine; Russian military forces have now conducted a subsequent large-scale invasion of Ukraine, dropping missiles on Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa, Mariupol and other cities in Ukraine, and killing many Ukrainian civilians and soldiers; The subsequent Russian invasion of Ukraine is a grave violation of international law and must be universally condemned. We, the undersigned, citizens and permanent residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Stand with the people of Ukraine in the threat faced towards Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity; 2. Call on the international community to take decisive action against the Putin regime, and ban Russia from international organizations, including the UNSC, OSCE, etc.; 3. Impose full and swift sanctions against the Putin regime, including the removal of Russia from the SWIFT international payments system; 4. Boycott Russian oil and gas imports in Canada and Europe, and secure energy agreements with Western partners; 5. Increase the supply of military equipment and lethal defensive weapons to protect the territory and human rights of the people of Ukraine; 6. Provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine; 7. Provide vital assistance to refugees impacted by the conflict in Ukraine and allow Canadians with family members in Ukraine to urgently bring family members to Canada for as long as the conflict persists.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by Rob Oliphant Canada condemns Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and remains unwavering in its commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters. Canada’s strong bilateral relationship with Ukraine and unequivocal support are long-standing and rooted in people-to-people ties and in Canada’s commitment to the United Nations Charter and defending international law. In 1991, Canada was the first Western country to recognize Ukraine’s independence. Canada’s support was reinforced through military and diplomatic efforts in 2014 when Russia invaded and attempted to annex Crimea, and again when Russia launched its full-scale invasion and war of aggression in February 2022. Since 2022, the Government of Canada has committed $22 billion in multifaceted support for Ukraine’s urgent defence, humanitarian and macroeconomic needs, and to invest in Ukraine’s longer-term prosperity, security, and recovery. Canada leverages its bilateral and multilateral diplomacy to mobilize support to Ukraine and maximize coordination on addressing urgent issues. For example, Canada strengthened support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity during its 2025 Presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) by ensuring Ukraine's participation in meetings of the Group of Seven and coordinating pressure on Russia through sanctions and Russian asset measures. Canada also co-chairs, with Ukraine, the 45-member International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which advances efforts to return Ukrainian children forcibly transferred or illegally deported by the Russian Federation. This year, Canada and Ukraine co-hosted a leader-level meeting of the Coalition at the United Nations General Assembly, and, with Ukraine and the European Union, co-facilitated a United Nations General Assembly resolution on the Return of Ukrainian Children. Canada has exerted sustained pressure on Russia to end its illegal and unprovoked war of aggression on Ukraine, including through a combination of sanctions, trade restrictions, diplomatic coordination, and military support for Ukraine. Canada works with its Allies and partners to coordinate military support that addresses Ukraine’s defence needs and long-term security through active participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization -Ukraine Council and the Coalition of the Willing. Bilaterally Canada continues to employ a limited engagement policy with Russia, and in multilateral settings and fora, Canada works in collaboration with its partners to hold Russia to account for its actions, pushes back against Russia’s narrative and seeks to limit Russia’s influence. Since 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 3,300 individuals and entities complicit in the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in gross and systematic human rights violations. This includes President Putin, senior Russian officials, parliamentarians, oligarchs, financial elites, and entities in the defence, energy and financial sectors. Canada has also sanctioned over 400 shadow fleet vessels facilitating the transport of oil, liquified natural gas, arms, and other sanctioned goods. Canada has banned imports of luxury goods (e.g., diamonds, caviar), metals, coal, and firearms, and has applied a 35% tariff on virtually all other imports. Canada has banned exports of arms, weapon-related goods, advanced tech, jet fuel, and items tied to Russia’s military and industrial sectors. Canada has revoked Russia’s and Belarus’ Most Favoured Nation status and has applied a full trade embargo to Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. Canada has also prohibited Russia Today/Russia Today France broadcasts. Canada has sanctioned the Russian Central Bank and has blocked select Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication messaging system. Canada has sanctioned major Russian oil and gas companies such as Gazprom, Rosneft and Lukoil. As a member of the Oil Price Cap Coalition, Canada has banned imports of Russian crude oil, refined petroleum products, and gaseous hydrocarbons, and prohibits exports of goods and services related to oil exploration and production. Canada lowered the oil price cap to US$47.60 per barrel in September 2025, and has restricted services linked to marine transport of oil sold above the price cap. Canada has also broadly prohibited services supporting Russia’s energy, manufacturing, and transportation sector. Canada will continue to update its sanctions regime to maintain pressure on Russia and counter Russia’s attempts at circumvention, in close coordination with partners. Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to have far-reaching and dire effects on civilian populations in Ukraine and its neighboring countries, creating an urgent need for humanitarian assistance. Canada has committed over $369.85 million in humanitarian assistance since January 2022, which has been delivered through experienced partners (the United Nations, Red Cross and other non-governmental organizations) in response to the humanitarian impacts of Russia’s invasion. These partners adhere to accepted international humanitarian assistance principles. Canada’s humanitarian assistance is aligned with the United Nations’ Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan and enables multi-sector assistance such as support for emergency health interventions, protection services, and essentials such as shelter, water, sanitation, and food. Canada's funding, alongside peer donors, reached an estimate 8.4 million people in 2024. Canada is committed to a just and lasting peace – one that ensures Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and long-term security against potential future aggression by Russia. A just peace in Ukraine is critical for the ongoing precedents of upholding the United Nations Charter and its principles of territorial integrity and the rule of law. Response by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Signed by Peter Fragiskatos Since Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, the Government of Canada has put in place measures to help Ukrainians in and outside Canada. These measures include the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) measures, through which Canada has welcomed approximately 305 000 Ukrainians and their family members who sought temporary safety in Canada due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. They also include the special family reunification pathway to facilitate permanent residence for Ukrainian nationals in Canada who are immediate or extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The CUAET was always intended to be a temporary measure, with the long-term goal of allowing Ukrainians to return home and help rebuild their country, when it is safe to do so. While most of the CUAET measures have ended, the government has extended some temporary in-Canada measures to allow Ukrainians and their family members, who arrived in Canada under CUAET, to continue to work and study here while the conflict in Ukraine continues. Ukrainians and their family members who were facilitated under the CUAET measures and who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024, have until March 31, 2026, to apply for a new open work permit that is valid for up to three years, renew a current work permit or apply for a new study permit, subject to standard fees. Those who wish to renew their status as a visitor or student can apply through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s regular application processes, subject to standard fees. Intake for the family reunification pathway to permanent residence for certain Ukrainian nationals with family in Canada and their eligible family members closed on October 22, 2024. Processing of applications is ongoing. The Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway is included in the Humanitarian and Compassionate and Other Category within the Immigration Levels Plan, for which a total of 6 900 admissions have been allocated in 2026, distributed across multiple humanitarian and crisis commitments. We continue to monitor the situation in the region and evaluate how our immigration programs can best support Ukrainians. Ukrainians who wish to immigrate to Canada permanently can still apply for permanent residence through various existing immigration programs and streams, including economic pathways and through family sponsorship. The Canada Border Services Agency continues to have an administrative deferral of removals in place for Ukraine. Response by the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Signed by Sherry Romanado The Government of Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression. At the G7 Summit in July 2025, the Prime Minister pledged an additional $2 billion to meet Ukraine’s most pressing battlefield requirements this fiscal year, raising the total of Canada’s military assistance to Ukraine to approximately $6.5 billion since 2022. To date, Canada has provided a range of critical capabilities to Ukraine sourced from Canadian industry and via multilateral initiatives, in line with the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s priority requirements. This includes armoured vehicles, drones, artillery ammunition, high-resolution cameras, F-16 pilot training, air defence capabilities, winter gear, small arms and ammunition, and cybersecurity capabilities. In December 2025, Canada committed an additional $200 million to purchase a package of equipment and munitions through North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, in partnership with allies. This investment complements Canada’s previous donation of an entire PURL package valued at approximately $692 million CAD— raising Canada’s total contribution this North Atlantic Treaty Organization initiative to approximately $892 million CAD. At the December 2025 Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, the Minister of National Defence further announced that Canada will donate an additional $50 million to the Drone Capability Coalition, building on previous contributions of $37 million. These contributions complement Canada’s provision of advanced capabilities, including over $296 million in optical and infrared imaging and targeting systems committed since 2022. To date, 140 units have been delivered, with 18 more expected in the coming months. Donations of surplus Canadian Armed Forces equipment, including AIM-7 and AIM-9 motors and ancillaries, will continue with deliveries to Ukraine starting in early 2026. Canada will also continue working closely with its partners and Allies to ensure Ukraine receives the military assistance it needs. The Minister of National Defence remains in regular contact with Ukraine’s Minister of Defence to address the country’s most pressing security needs and determine how Canada can best support. For more information on Canada’s comprehensive military assistance to Ukraine, please visit: Canadian military support to Ukraine - Canada.ca.