There Is "No Limit" On Number Of Ukrainian Refugees To Be Allowed Into Canada

Zero Hedge/Epoch Times: "No Limit" On Number Of Ukrainian Refugees To Be Allowed Into Canada: Federal Memo 

With 230,000 Ukrainians having already emigrated to Canada to flee the war, a recently disclosed internal memo from the Immigration Department says there is “no limit” on the number of Ukrainian war refugees that can be allowed into Canada. 

The government closed applications on July 15 for Ukrainian refugees looking to obtain temporary emergency visas and free flights to Canada, but about 1.1 million Ukrainians applied for visas prior to the deadline—of which about 800,000 had been approved as of the beginning of July. 

“There is no limit,” said a Department of Immigration memo sent to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs and obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Regular readers of this blog know that I have been helping Ukrainian refugees settle in Canada since the start of the war. I have been often asked how many have I helped. To be honest. Aside from helping two cousins and their families as well as a dozen friends, I lost count a long time ago. 

I have also been asked if any of them want to go back to Ukraine when the war is over. That is an easy question to answer. No one wants to give up their Canadian status. In fact. When the war is finally over I predict another massive influx of Ukrainian refugees to Canada, and almost all of them will be military-aged males who will then be permitted to leave the country and reunite with their family members and loved ones in Canada.

Canadian Government Loans Ukraine $450 Million To Buy Heating Oil. No Support To Canadians Who Heat With Oil

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, attends a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital (Efrem Lukatsky/The Associated Press)   

Reuters: Canada disburses C$450 mln loan to Ukraine for heating fuel 

OTTAWA, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Canada has disbursed C$450 million ($348.1 million) in loans to Ukraine to support the purchase of necessary heating fuel before winter, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement on Wednesday. 

The amount is a part of a C$1.95 billion in loans Canada committed to Ukraine to support Kyiv during the Russian invasion.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The official Canadian government announcement is here .... Canada disburses $450 million in loans to Ukraine (Government of Canada). 

I heat my home with oil, and my cost has increased by about 70% in one year. The Canadian government has already made it very clear that there will be no support for oil consumers like me. And as for this $450 million loan. I am more than willing to bet that this money will never be repaid back.

Update: Did some thinking and I then realized that almost no one heats with oil in Ukraine. Certainly none of my friends or family members do. And then I did some digging and found that heating with oil is negligible in Ukraine (link here). 

So where is this $450 million really going? 

I am willing to bet that this money will be used to buy diesel/heating oil, but it will be used to fuel Ukrainian military vehicles, not homes.

In Phone Call With Canadian PM Trudeau Ukrainian President Zelensky Says Ukraine Can Never Accept Return Of Nord Stream Turbine To Russia

Canadian PM Trudeau meets Ukraine's President Zelenskiy in Kyiv. © Reuters/UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE

 Ukrinform: Zelensky to Trudeau: Ukrainians to never accept Canada's decision on Nord Stream turbine 

Ukrainians will never accept Canada's decision to hand the Nord Stream turbine back to Germany, which was actually shipped in violation of sanctions. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine stated this in a video address to the nation. 

"Today I spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Of course, we discussed our cooperation and I thanked him, I thanked Canada for their support,” Zelensky said. 

At the same time, the president emphasized that “Ukrainians will never accept Canada's decision regarding the Nord Stream turbine, which was decided to be handed over to Germany in violation of the sanctions regime.”  

Read more ....  

Update: Zelenskiy says raised Ukraine stance on Russia gas turbine with Trudeau (Reuters)  

WNU Editor: I Just learned that the turbine that is causing this dispute was just sent to Germany even though this case is in front of the Canadian courts .... Canada Returns Repaired Siemens Turbine to Russia – Kommersant (Moscow Times).

Ukraine President Zelenskyy Condemns Canada For Return Of Russia-Germany Pipeline Turbines

 

CTV News: 'Manifestation of weakness': Zelenskyy condemns Canada for return of Russia-Germany pipeline turbines 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is personally condemning Canada over its decision to grant a Canadian company a "time-limited and revocable permit," allowing them to return turbines from a Russian pipeline that supplies natural gas to Germany. 

Zelenskyy said that Canada's decision is about more than wrongly deciding to hand over the turbines, but that it was an "absolutely unacceptable exception to the sanctions regime against Russia." "If a terrorist state can squeeze out such an exception to sanctions, what exceptions will it want tomorrow or the day after tomorrow? 

This question is very dangerous," Zelenskyy said in a video and accompanying statement on Monday, that also stated the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs “had to summon Canada's representative to our country.”  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Ukraine furious at Canada for waiving sanctions on gas pipeline part (IBtimes)  

Update #2: Zelensky says Moscow will see Canada's decision to return turbines as 'weakness' (CBC)  

Update #3: US says it backs Canadian move to help Germany import natural gas from Russia (The Hill)  

WNU Editor: Blaming Canada while Ukraine itself is transporting Russian gas and collecting transit money.

A Canadian Veteran Describes Weeks Under Fire In Ukraine

 

CBC: Shadow's war: A Canadian veteran describes weeks under fire in Ukraine 

Former Canadian Forces soldier experienced combat for the first time as a volunteer in Ukraine 

It happened in a split-second. About 10 days ago, a Russian tank that Shadow and a fellow Canadian — the sniper known as Wali — had been quietly stalking in the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine turned and fired on them. 

Two Ukrainian soldiers who were with them had ignored Wali's advice a moment before by stepping outside the cover of their observation post — nothing more than a trench — for a cigarette.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The Canadian-led foreign battalion in Ukraine is having problems .... Incompetence or the realities of war? Turmoil for Canadian-led foreign battalion in Ukraine (Montreal Gazette).

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau Makes A Surprise Visit To Ukraine. Meets President zelensky

 

Daily Mail: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pays surprise visit to Kyiv on same day as Jill Biden and U2 make unannounced visits to war-torn Ukraine 

* Trudeau made an unannounced visit Sunday to Irpin, a Kyiv suburb targeted during Russia’s attempt to take the capital, and met Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn 

* Markushyn posted pictures of Trudeau walking around with Ukrainian army chiefs and surveying the damage at a bombarded apartment complex 

* Trudeau's office later confirmed the visit. The Canadian leader flew overnight on Saturday and is expected to spend one day in Ukraine to meet with Zelensky 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has joined United States First Lady Jill Biden and rock band U2 in making separate surprise visits to Ukraine on Mother's Day. 

Trudeau made an unannounced visit Sunday to Irpin, a Kyiv suburb targeted during Russia’s attempt to take the capital, and met Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn, the Associated Press reported. 

'I've just had the honor to meet with the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, who came to Irpin to see with his own eyes all the horror which Russian occupants have caused to our town,' Markushyn said on his Telegram channel.  

Read more .... 

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau Makes A Surprise Visit To Ukraine  

Trudeau makes surprise visit to Ukraine, meets with Zelensky -- CBC News  

Justin Trudeau makes surprise visit to Ukraine -- CTV News  

Trudeau makes surprise visit to Kyiv as Russia readies ‘Victory Day’ show -- Global News  

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Visits Irpin in Ukraine, Says Mayor -- Reuters  

Justin Trudeau makes surprise visit to Ukraine -- Axios

Canada Deploys Special Forces To Ukraine

 

Global Times: Canada deploys special forces to Ukraine amid rising tensions with Russia 

Canadian special forces operators have been deployed to Ukraine amid rising tensions between the NATO military alliance and Russia, Global News has learned. 

The deployment of a small contingent from the Canadian Special Operations Regiment comes as diplomatic talks aimed at staving off an armed conflict in Ukraine have faltered, and an estimated 100,000 Russian troops remain camped on Ukraine’s border. 

Read more .... 

Update #1: Small group of Canadian special forces sent to Ukraine, sources confirm (CTV News) 

Update #2: Canada deploys special forces to Ukraine – media (RT) 

WNU Editor: The Canadian government is advising Canadians to not travel to Ukraine .... Canada asks citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine due to 'Russian aggression' (National Post/Reuters). 

There is also a push within Canada to send weapons to Ukraine (see video below). 

Sighhh .... the Canadian government cannot even properly equip its own military, but now they want to arm another country's military?!?!?!? 

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau: 'Canada Will Always Stand By Ukraine'

National Post: Trudeau condemns Russia’s annexation of Crimea, vows ‘Canada will always stand by Ukraine’

KYIV — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his nine-year-old son, Xavier, making his public debut overseas, spent much of Monday visiting memorials of Stalin’s starvation of Ukraine in the 1930s, Nazi atrocities against Ukrainians during the Second World War and the slaughter in 1941 of 33,770 Jews by Hitler’s forces at Babi Yar.

But such reminders melded with talk about the country’s current war with Russia, which was triggered by Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its subsequent direct and indirect military actions in eastern Ukraine.

“Canada will always stand by Ukraine,” Trudeau told Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko after the two leaders signed a free-trade agreement in an opulent, Soviet-era hall in the presidential palace.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: My friends and relatives in Ukraine asked me if there is any difference between former Canadian PM Harper and current PM Trudeau .... I said on the issue of Ukraine it will be business as usual. A Liberal friend of mine in the Canadian government asked me a few weeks ago on what did I expect from this trip .... my answer was that it is good PR, the Canadian delegation is visiting at that time of year when the weather is good, and as for dealing with President Poroshenko, I did remind my friend that the Ukrainian President has poll numbers in the low teens .... and they have been there for the past year.

More News On Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau's Trip To Ukraine

Canada’s prime minister on visit to Ukraine -- AP
Trudeau won't commit to extending Ukraine training mission beyond 2017 -- CBC
Justin Trudeau won’t say if Canada will extend military training mission in Ukraine -- Global News/Canadian Press
Canadian PM says Russia not been "positive partner" on Minsk ceasefire -- Reuters
Ukraine and Canada sign 'milestone' free trade deal -- AFP

Ukraine Wants To Buy Weapons From Canada

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (L) speaks to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv on Nov. 29. Photo by president.gov.ua

CBC: Canada set to sign trade deal, defence co-operation agreement with Ukraine

Ukraine is seeking clearance to buy weapons from Canada and the U.S..

Canada is on the cusp of finalizing a defence co-operation agreement with Ukraine, and the country's ambassador tells CBC News he's hopeful the Trudeau government will soon allow Canadian companies to export weapons to the embattled nation.

Deepening ties and showing solidarity with the war-weary government in Kyiv is one of the major themes of the next few days as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau departs this afternoon for high-level meetings in eastern Europe.

The defence co-operation deal would allow for more direct Canadian military and defence industrial support for Ukraine.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: My source (in Ukraine) tells me that this is a done deal. They expect an announcement from Canada in the fall.

Hat tip to RRH for this link.

Canada To Send Non-Combat Troops To Ukraine

Reuters/Przemyslaw Szyszka

CTV: Canada to send troops to Ukraine in non-combat role

Canada will be sending troops to Ukraine to participate in a non-combat role in the region in the coming months.

CTV's Mercedes Stephenson reported the news Friday on Power Play.

"While the government is still working out the details, sources tell CTV News a training mission is one of the options on the table. Canada will likely work closely with American allies who are already in the region," Stephenson said.

WNU Editor: As a Canadian citizen .... this deployment makes me feel very uncomfortable. We are getting involved in a conflict that shows no signs of letting up, and we will be viewed by many in eastern Ukraine as a foreign occupation force assisting a government that has very little support among Russian Ukrainians. If there is one thing that I always tell people about Russians .... they may hate their governments and leaders, but they will doubly hate outsiders who show up uninvited .... especially if they are carrying weapons.

More News On Reports That Canada Will Be Sending Non-Combat Troops To Ukraine

Canada to send troops to Ukraine - media -- ITAR-TASS
Canada to send troops to Ukraine ‘in non-combat role’ - report -- Reuters
Canada Plans to Send Soldiers to Ukraine – Canadian Media -- Sputnik
Canada to send troops to Ukraine - media -- Panorama