Canada Supports Regime Change In Russia

 

 National Post/Canadian Press: Regime change in Moscow 'definitely' the goal, Joly says, as Canada bans Russian steel, aluminum imports  

Canada's politicians 'don't want to recognize ... that the current Russian policy is supported by the ultimate majority of the nation,' Russia's Ambassador countered 

OTTAWA — Canada is banning the import of Russian steel and aluminum as part of its sanctions regime, as Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly raises the possibility of regime change in Moscow. 

Joly made the remarks at a Friday press conference where she discussed the importance of maintaining a diplomatic presence in Moscow. 

“We’re able to see how much we’re isolating the Russian regime right now — because we need to do so economically, politically and diplomatically — and what are the impacts also on society, and how much we’re seeing potential regime change in Russia,” she said.  

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Update #1: Canadian Foreign Minister Calls For “Regime Change” in Russia (Summit News)  

Update #2: Trudeau Minister Admits Goal is Regime Change in Russia (Breitbart)  

WNU Editor: Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is only voicing out loud what many NATO governments are thinking.

Russia's ambassador to Canada has responded .... Russia 'Perplexed' by Canadian Foreign Minister's Goal to Change ‘Russian Regime’ - Envoy (Sputnik).

Molotov Cocktail Thrown At Russian Embassy In Ottawa

Street signs calling for a free Ukraine as a gesture of solidarity from the City of Ottawa are installed on posts along Charlotte Street in front of the Embassy of Russia in Ottawa, as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)  

CBC/Reuters: Moscow summons Canada envoy, says Russian Embassy was attacked in Ottawa 

Russia's Foreign Ministry says unknown person unsuccessfully threw Molotov cocktail onto the embassy grounds 

Russia's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Canadian ambassador and issued a protest over attacks on the Russian Embassy in Ottawa, the ministry said on Monday. 

It said an unknown person threw a Molotov cocktail onto the grounds of the Russian Embassy in Ottawa. It also said "aggressive" demonstrators had blocked an entrance to the consular section of the embassy. 

Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov was quoted in Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik on Monday as saying that the bottle was thrown early on the morning of Sept. 12 but didn't ignite. The embassy should have a permanent police presence, he is quoted as saying.  

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WNU Editor: I am surprised .... stunned really .... that there is no permanent police presence outside the embassy. Canada has a large Ukrainian and Russian immigrant population, and tensions between the two sides are the worse that I have ever seen. 

My own church is thinking of hiring security because of threats that only got worse when the Canadian government imposed sanctions on the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in July .... Canada Imposes Sanctions On The Head Of The Russian Orthodox Church (July 10, 2022). 

Molotov Cocktail Thrown At Russian Embassy In Ottawa  

No Russian Staff Hurt, No Property Damaged in Attack on Embassy in Ottawa, Ambassador Says -- Sputnik  

Russia claims Ottawa embassy was attacked, summons Canada's ambassador in Moscow -- CTV News/Canadian Press  

Russian Foreign Ministry Summons Canadian Ambassador Over Alleged Attacks On Embassy -- RFE

Canada Imposes Sanctions On The Head Of The Russian Orthodox Church

Pope Francis meets with Patriarch Kirill in Havana, Cuba on Feb. 12, 2016. L'Osservatore Romano.  

Orthodox Times: Canada has imposed sanctions on Patriarch of Moscow Kirill 

Canada has imposed sanctions on Patriarch of Moscow Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, as part of a series of measures the country took to target “agents of Russian disinformation and propaganda” over the invasion of Ukraine. 

These measures were immediately criticized by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who stated that “sanctions against the Patriarch would only be imposed by Satanists.” 

Patriarch Kirill has put the Church at the service of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he calls a “miracle” as he shares his vision of a conservative, sovereign Russia and supports the war in Ukraine. 

In addition to Canada, the United Kingdom also imposed sanctions on the 75-year-old Patriarch in June.  

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Update #1: Ottawa announces new sanctions on Russia but returns key turbine for Russian gas pipeline (CBC)  

Update #2: Canada targets oil and gas manufacturing in new Russian sanctions (CTV)  

WNU Editor: Governments sanctioning religious leaders is a pathway that I would never recommend. But Canada has made that decision, and for Canada's 800,000 Russian Orthodox Canadians (this blogger included), we are now facing collective punishment. I have to wonder what is next.

Chinese And Russian Spying In Canada Reaching 'Cold War' Levels

 

 National Post: China, Russia 'primary culprits' behind 'Cold War' levels of espionage and foreign interference towards Canada: CSIS 

Two reports point to a 'sharp increase' in both the scope and scale of hostile activity towards Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic 

OTTAWA – Canada’s spy agency says that it “observed espionage and foreign interference activity at levels not seen since the Cold War” last year and that many security threats have become “much more serious.” 

“The key national security threats facing Canada, namely violent extremism, foreign interference, espionage and malicious cyber activity, accelerated, evolved and in many ways became much more serious for Canadians,” warns Canadian Security Intelligence Service Director (CSIS) David Vigneault in the organization’s 2020 annual report.  

Read more .... 

More News On 'Cold War' Levels Of Espionage And Foreign Interference In Canada  

Intelligence committee warns China, Russia targeting Canadian COVID-19 research -- CTV/Canadian Press 

State actors are looking to join political parties to 'exert influence,' chair of security committee warns -- CBC News  

Foreign interference in Canada hitting Cold War levels thanks to COVID-19: CSIS -- Toronto Sun/Reuters  

Foreign interference in Canada hitting Cold War levels thanks to Covid-19, says spy agency -- CNN  

Canada: Most espionage since Cold War amid pandemic -- DW  

CSIS says 2020 was a banner year for espionage operations targeting Canada -- CBC

Two Long-Range Russian Bombers Buzzed Canadian Airspace Friday Morning

Tupolev Tu-160 (NATO reporting name: Blackjack) supersonic bomber at the Engels Air Force Base on Dec. 5, 2011. (Photo ITAR-TASS/ Dmitry Rogulin)

CBC/Canadian Press: Russian bombers buzzed Canadian airspace: NORAD

Two long-range Russian bombers buzzed Canadian airspace Friday morning.

Two long-range Russian bombers buzzed Canadian airspace this morning, only days after a senior military officer warned that North America's early warning system is outdated.

The North American Aerospace Defence Command says the two Tu-160 Blackjack bombers crossed the North Pole and approached Canada from western Russia, but remained in international airspace before departing.

NORAD tracked the bombers as they flew through Canada's air defence identification zone, but did not scramble fighters to intercept the Russians.

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WNU Editor: At least NORAD knew they were there .... Senior officer warns NORAD can't detect Russian bombers in time, needs upgrades (CBC).

This Is How You Expel A Russian Diplomat

The flag flies outside the Russian embassy in Ottawa on Monday, March 26, 2018. (Photo: Justin Tang/CP)

Murad Hemmadi, Macleans: How to expel a Russian diplomat

Canada is removing four Russian diplomats in solidarity with the U.K. Here’s how Ottawa expels them—and makes sure they actually leave.

Canada is showing the door to four Russian diplomats, one of a number of countries removing representatives of Vladimir Putin’s regime following an attack using a nerve agent in the U.K. that targeted a former Russian spy.

Such expulsions are a way to “express displeasure” with the government targeted says Gar Pardy, a former head of consular affairs and ambassador at Canada’s foreign affairs ministry.

The U.S. and several European nations are also showing the U.K. their fellow-feeling by removing Russian officials, with the tally of those declared persona non grata totalling over 100. The four being expelled by Canada come from the embassy in Ottawa and consulate in Montreal, and have been pegged as “intelligence officers or individuals who have used their diplomatic status to undermine Canada’s security or interfere in our democracy,” Minister of Global Affairs Chrystia Freeland said in a statement Monday morning.

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WNU Editor:When the Cold War ended almost 30 years ago the last thing that I thought I would ever see are mass expulsions. I was wrong .... history is now going full circle.

Canada's Foreign Minister: Canada Should Prepare For Russia Destabilization Efforts

Reuters: Canada should prepare for Russia destabilization efforts: minister

Canada's foreign affairs minister said on Monday that her country should be prepared for Russia to try to destabilize its political system, saying it would be similar to its efforts in the United States.

Chrystia Freeland, who is a critic of Russia and is barred from entering that country, was asked whether Russia had engaged in a smear campaign against her after negative articles appeared in pro-Russian media about her Ukrainian grandfather.

"It is public knowledge that there have been efforts, as U.S. intelligence forces have said, by Russia to destabilize the U.S. political system," Freeland told reporters in Parliament.

"I think that Canadians and, indeed, other Western countries should be prepared for similar efforts to be directed at us."

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Being one who lives in Canada .... the idea that Russia will destabilise the Canadian political system is .... to put it bluntly .... ridiculous. So why the reaction from her .... details from pro-Russian media on her grandfather's alleged Nazi past are surfacing.

Canada To Deploy Troops To Latvia For New NATO Brigade To Deter Russian Aggression

Canadian troops take part in a joint exercise with Polish troops not far from Ukraine's western border earlier this year. More Canadian troops will be deployed to join a NATO force the region, the government will announce today. (CBC)

CBC: Canada to send troops to Latvia for new NATO brigade

Trudeau government agrees to NATO troop deployment in Eastern Europe

The Trudeau government has decided it will send troops to join a NATO high-readiness brigade preparing to deploy in Eastern Europe.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says Canada will take a leadership role and establish one of the battle group formations requested by the alliance.

The impending dispatch of forces builds on the former Conservative government's placement of troops in Eastern Europe for training exercises and to reassure governments in the region that western nations were serious about holding Russian expansionism in check.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: This announcement comes on the heels of President Obama's visit to Canada and his "chiding" that Canada should contribute more to the NATO mission. And while the decision to send these soldiers was probably made a long time ago .... the timing of the U.S. President saying we should do this .... and Canada then doing it a day later .... makes me feel (as a Canadian) that our foreign policy may be not that independent as we would like to think it is. As to the mission itself .... the Baltic nations are already a part of NATO .... any Russian invasion would mean a state of war would then exist in Europe. Sending 1,000 Canadian troops to the Baltics would only mean that 1,000 prisoners of war will need to be exchanged when hostilities are over .... that is if nuclear weapons are not exchanged in the onslaught (which is probably what will happen anyway).

More News On Canada Deploying Troops To Latvia For A New NATO Brigade

Canada to contribute to NATO force on Russia’s border -- Ottawa Citizen
Canada to send troops to Latvia to bolster NATO forces in stand against potential aggression from Russia -- National Post
Canada set to lead new NATO battle group against Russia, says Sajjan -- Toronto Star
Canada to give troops for NATO force, ready to talk to Russia -- Reuters
Canada to send 1,000 soldiers to boost Nato presence on Russia border -- The Guardian
Canada to Create NATO Battlegroup to Enhance Defense in Eastern Europe -- Sputnik
Canada to send 1,000 troops to E. Europe to boost NATO presence at Russia’s doorstep -- RT

Canada's Intelligence Agency Warns That Russia Is 'Mobilizing For War'

Troops from Canada's 3rd Division participate at a NATO-led exercise with the U.S. Army's 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Poland's 6th Airborne Brigade. Canada is considering a request to supply troops for a new NATO force in the Baltics. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

CBC: Canada considers European troop commitment as CSIS warns Russia is 'mobilizing for war'

Putin 'is modernizing conventional military capability on a large scale'

The Trudeau government is considering a request to commit hundreds of troops to eastern Europe and take part command of a new NATO force being assembled to deter Russian aggression.

Canada's participation in the Baltic operation was discussed Tuesday by the military alliance's defence ministers, including Canada's Harjit Sajjan, at a meeting in Brussels.

This comes just days after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service quietly released an open-sourced global security analysis warning, among other things, that the hard-line policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin are becoming more deeply entrenched and that Moscow is retooling its military for a fight.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: This Canadian Intelligence report is based on open source academic research and evaluations and not based on internal CSIS assessments ... which leads me to the next question .... who did they use to make this assessment? I asked around, checked their website, etc. .... no one has seen the report .... and it looks like no one will. As a Canadian citizen I do want to know why are we making these national security conclusions and policies .... but as of this moment no one has answered any of my inquiries .... and I will not be surprised if no one will.

Canada Turns Down Russia's Offer To Help In Fighting Alberta's Massive Forest Fires

A Russian-made Beriev Be-200ChS amphibious aircraft, owned by the Siberian Regional Centre of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, dumps some 12 tons of coloured water matching the Russian state flag during a demonstration flight at an air show dedicated to the Day of the Russian Air Fleet at the Yemelyanovo airport outside Krasnoyarsk August 18, 2012. Photo Credit: Ilya Naymushin / Reuters

Radio Canada International: Canada declines Russian offer of water bombers, firemen to help fight Alberta fire

As an “out-of-control” wildfire continues to grow around the oil town of Fort McMurray in the western Canadian province of Alberta, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined on Monday an offer by Russia to dispatch massive water bombers and fire fighting specialists to battle the blaze.

Trudeau thanked Russia for the offer but said there was no need for it.

“One of the things that has been touching over the past days is not just how Canadians have been stepping up from across the country to support their friends in Fort McMurray but how the international community has been affected and responding to this tragedy, to this ongoing challenge,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

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WNU Editor: Canada also turned down U.S. and Mexican offers of assistance .... Trudeau turns down Russian, U.S., Mexican offers to help fight Fort Mac wildfire (CTV News). But crisis are usually an opportunity for international relations to be cemented and/or to be restarted .... even if the assistance is just a token gesture of help .... which is probably why I now I feel that this is a lost opportunity.

Hat Tip to Jason for this story.

Update: Before & After: Satellite images show wildfire devastation wreaked on Fort McMurray (PHOTOS) (RT).

U.S. And Canadian Jets Intercept 8 Russian Military Aircraft Near North American Airspace

Russian Planes Intercepted Near U.S., Canadian airspace -- CNN

(CNN) -- Two U.S. jets intercepted six Russian planes that neared U.S. airspace off Alaska on Thursday and Canadian planes intercepted two Russian bombers that approached Canadian airspace, NORAD reported.

A U.S. official told CNN's Barbara Starr that officials in Washington think the incidents were related to the visit by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who talked to Canadian officials Wednesday and President Barack Obama on Thursday. The United States promised Ukraine $46 million in nonlethal aid for its battle with pro-Russian militants.

The Russian aircraft flew within about 55 nautical miles of the Alaskan coastline and about 40 nautical miles of the Canadian coastline, said Capt. Jeff Davis of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. And Canadian Jets Intercepting 8 Russian Military Aircraft Near North American Airspace

U.S., Canadian jets intercept 8 Russian aircraft -- AP
Canadian and U.S. jets intercepted Russian planes over Arctic: Norad -- Global News
Canadian and U.S. jets intercepted Russian planes over Arctic this week: Norad -- The Province/Canadian Press
Russian jets intercepted by US near Alaska -- SKY News
Six Russian fighter jets intercepted off Alaska -- BBC
Russian bombers intercepted near Canadian airspace -- CTV
Russian military jets flew within 100 kilometres of Canadian mainland -- Globe and Mail
Canadian fighter jets intercept Russian bombers in Arctic-- CBC

3 Russian Fighter Jets Buzz A Canadian Frigate In The Black Sea

 

Russian Military Planes Buzzed HMCS Toronto In Black Sea -- CBC News 

HMCS Toronto left Halifax for Black Sea in late July Russia's military acted in an "unnecessarily provocative" manner when its aircraft circled a Canadian ship in the Black Sea on Sunday, says Canada's minister of national defence.

 "The acts perpetrated by Russia were unnecessarily provocative and are likely to increase tensions further," said Rob Nicholson in a written statement, saying it did not matter if the aircraft circling HMCS Toronto had posed no threat.

Read more ....

More News On Russian Jets Buzzing A Canadian Frigate In The Black Sea  

Canadian warship HMCS Toronto buzzed by Russian fighter jets during NATO military exercise in Black Sea -- Canadian Press
3 Russian jets buzz Canadian navy frigate participating in NATO exercise -- AP
Canadian defense ministry says Russian plane flies over its warship in Black Sea -- ITAR-TASS Canadian navy ship ‘buzzed’ by Russian jets -- News.com.au
Moscow denies aircraft 'approached' Canadian warship -- AFP
Flight of Russian Planes Over Black Sea Planned: Russian Defense Ministry -- RIA Novosti
Flight of 2 planes over Black Sea in accordance with int'l law – Russian Defense Ministry -- RT