Sanctions against Russia
67 Commons Library Research Briefing, 22 March 2023
Canada
In concert with the EU, US and UK, Canada has had sanctions in place against
Russia since 2014. Additional sanctions measures have also been introduced
for human rights violations by the Russian state.
In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, further rolling measures have
been introduced by the Canadian government since 24 February 2022,
including:
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• Sanctions against members of the Russian Duma and the Federation
Council.
• Prohibitions on Russian sovereign debt.
• Sanctions against leading Russian financial institutions, including
Sberbank, VTB, the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
• Sanctions against companies in the defence, maritime, transport and
energy sectors including Rostec, the United Aircraft Corporation,
Gazprom, Transneft and the Zelenodolsk Shipyard.
• A ban on trade with the LPR and DPR.
• Sanctions against members of Russia's Security Council, including
President Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defence
Minister Sergei Shoigu and other government ministers and officials.
• Restrictions against the Russian Central Bank, the Russian Ministry of
Finance and the National Wealth Fund.
• Restrictions on exports and imports such as iron, steel, aluminium and
luxury goods.
• Sanctions against oligarchs, close associates of the regime and family
members.
• Closing Canadian airspace to all Russian-owned, chartered or operated
aircraft.
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• A ban on crude oil imports.
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As a G7 country Canada also supports the
implementation of a price cap on imports of Russian crude oil to third
countries.
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• A prohibition on any ship that is registered in Russia, or is used, leased or
chartered by, or on behalf of, Russia, or has benefit for Russia, from
docking in Canada or passing through Canadian territorial waters.
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• Sanctions against 160 members of the Russian Federation Council.
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• A prohibition on services vital to the operation of Russia's oil, gas and
chemical industries, was introduced on 7 June 2022. In early July
sanctions were extended to include industrial manufacturing linked to
these sectors.
• Sanctions against entities and individuals deemed responsible for
spreading disinformation and propaganda were announced on 8 July
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Government of Canada, Sanctions – Russian invasion of Ukraine
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Transport Canada, News release, 27 February 2022
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Canada has not, however, imported any crude oil from Russia since 2019. Natural Resources
Canada, News release,
28 February 2022
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G7 statement of Finance Ministers, 2 September 2022
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Global Affairs Canada, Canadian sanctions related to Russia (accessed 8 March 2022)
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Effective as of 24 March 202, Government of Canada, Sanctions – Russian invasion of Ukraine
At the time of
writing, 1,289
individuals and 349
entities are subject
to Canadian
sanctions under its
Special
Economic
Measures (Russia)
Regulations.
