Canada–Russia relations

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Canada–Russia relations
Map indicating locations of Canada and Russia

Canada
Russia
Diplomatic mission
Russian Embassy, Ottawa
Envoy
Ambassador of Canada to Russia Alison LeClaireAmbassador of Russia to Canada Alexander Darchiev

Canada–Russia relations (

list of "unfriendly countries", along with Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, the United States, European Union members, NATO members (except Turkey), Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Micronesia and Ukraine
.

As vast northern countries, Canada and Russia share some interests and some cooperative policies. However, the open and democratic political system of Canada contrasts with the closed Russian system, as was the case during the Communist era of the Soviet Union (USSR).

Under the

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
and Russia threatened to sever them entirely over the possibility of Canada transferring a Russian jumbo jet to Ukraine.

As a result, Canada maintains sanctions on Russia, including on Vladimir Putin himself and other members of Putin's inner circle.[1]

Russia in turn has sanctioned Canada and Canadian individuals, including Prime Minister

Melanie Joly, and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.[2]

Some commentators argue that Russia-Canada relations since 2014 are more hostile and confrontational than at any point during the Cold War.[3]

History

Background

Main article: Canada–Soviet Union relations
A 1988 Soviet stamp commemorating the Soviet–Canadian polar expedition

As part of the

Bolshevik Revolution
of 1917 and the creation of the USSR.

In 1931, Canada imposed an embargo on certain Soviet goods. The embargo was a response to the fact that the Soviet government had previously cut trade relations with Canada. This trade war between the USSR and Canada lasted until 1936.[4]

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were finally established on June 12, 1942 during

democratic Western bloc and NATO in opposition to the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact
.

Compared to the United States and the United Kingdom, Canadian policy towards the Soviet Union was less confrontational, in part because Canada was not a nuclear power (without on-land nuclear warheads). In 1991, Canada was the first major Western country to recognize the independence of the Baltic states and Ukraine, which helped to cement their international legitimacy and formalize the end of the Soviet Union. Canada and post-Soviet Russia established relations in 1992.[6]

Relations since 1991 Soviet dissolution

APEC
dignitaries, September 2007
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Russian president Putin at the 2018 Paris Peace Forum

Meetings between Canadian and Russian representatives regularly occur at the highest levels. Prime Minister

G8 Summit in St. Petersburg in 2006 in which they issued joint statements on Canada-Russia Relations and Canada-Russia Energy Cooperation.[8]

Canada and Russia maintain regular political dialogue on security, counter-terrorism and global issues. This dialogue has been incorporated into the Global Security Talks, which allow high-level officials to share concerns and solutions on non-proliferation, regional issues and defence relations. Canada's major security undertaking with Russia is the leading role in the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, a G8 initiative first proposed at Kananaskis.[9] This programme had a budget of up to $25 billion over twenty years.[10]

On 12 June 2007, Canada and Russia marked the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.[11]

Deterioration since Russo-Ukrainian conflict

See also: Canada–Ukraine_relations § Entanglement_in_the_Russian-Ukrainian_war
Unfriendly Countries List" (red). Countries and territories on the list have imposed or joined sanctions against Russia.[12]

Relations between Canada and Russia deteriorated rapidly after the 2014 annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. In response to the annexation, Canada imposed sanctions on Russian officials. On March 3, 2014, the Canadian House of Commons passed a unanimous motion condemning Russia's intervention in Crimea.[13]

According to a 2017

Pew Global Attitudes Project survey, 27% of Canadians have a favourable view of Russia, with 59% expressing an unfavourable view.[14]

As of December 2020, Canadian public opinion on Vladimir Putin and Russia remains highly negative, with 62% of Canadians holding an unfavourable view of Russia.[15]

On 1 February 2022 rumours of open conflict were thick and a helpful list of Canadian sanctions tools was provided by consultant attorneys. There were then three pieces of secondary legislation that collectively formed the "Sanctions Regime":[16]

Relations remained frosty until February 24, 2022, when they turned openly hostile after the

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Canada's government condemned the invasion, imposed punitive sanctions on Russian officials, banned Russian aircraft from its airspace,[17][18] and imposed a total ban on Russian oil imports in response to the invasion.[19]

On 27 April 2022, Canadian lawmakers in the House of Commons voted to recognize Russia's actions in Ukraine as genocide.[20] In response to the sanctions from Canada, Russia banned many Canadian officials from entering the country, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several provincial premiers.[21][22]

Cultural relations

Culture has a high profile in Russia, where a rapidly developing market presents new opportunities for Canadian cultural goods and services. Specialized film festivals, book fairs, cultural expos, performances and exhibitions are widely attended and are seen as a conduit of social values. Canada's cultural relations with Russia are increasingly vibrant, particularly following former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson's state visit to Russia in the fall of 2003, when a delegation of prominent Canadians in the cultural field established lasting contacts with their Russian counterparts.[citation needed]

Music of Russian romantic composers - notably

Union of Soviet Composers, performers, and critics, and playing for them recordings of Canadian works. In 1978, in exchange, the Soviet composer and the pianist Andrei Eshpai
visited the CMCentre.

In 2004, the

State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg hosted works by Tom Thomson, the first exhibition devoted to a Canadian artist at the Hermitage. The Hermitage also had a very successful Jean-Paul Riopelle exhibit in the summer of 2006. In 2007 artist Jeff Wall exhibited at the Moscow Art Biennale in February; and over 40 nights of Canadian theatrical performances in Russia were staged by Robert Lepage, Compagnie Marie Chouinard, Cirque Eloize and Theatre Smith-Gilmour at the Chekhov Theatre Festival. The year 2007 also marks the 50th anniversary of Glenn Gould
's tour of the Soviet Union in 1957.

Canadian and Russian ice hockey players shake hands after a game for the 2017 Channel One Cup

Canada and Russia share an ice hockey rivalry, resulting in a number of events played between their national ice hockey teams; including the 1972 Summit Series, and the 1974 Summit Series. The CHL Canada/Russia Series, a junior ice hockey tournament between players of the Canadian Hockey League and a select team from Russia, has been played annually since 2003.

Economic relations

Growing domestic demand combined with vast natural resource wealth has made Russia a prime destination for the export of Canadian goods and services and for new Canadian foreign direct investment. To help facilitate closer economic ties between Canada and Russia, the governments of both countries participate in the Canada-Russia Intergovernmental Economic Commission (IEC). Working groups are active year-round in the areas of agri-food and agriculture, fuel and energy, construction and housing, mining, and the Arctic and North.

The first-ever Canada-Russia Business Summit, organized jointly by Canada Eurasia Russia Business Association (CERBA) and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), was held March 26–27, 2007, in Ottawa. This event successfully combined the 6th session of the Canada-Russia IEC, co-chaired by Minister Emerson and Russian Agriculture Minister

Vladislav Tretyak
, the famed Russian goalie in the 1972 Canada Russia hockey summit, now Duma member and co-chair of the Canada Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group.

The most recent Canada-Russia Business Summit was organized in Ottawa on June 1, 2011, by CERBA, in coordination with the Government of Canada and the Government of Russia. The event was co-chaired on the government level by the Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov and the Canadian Minister of International Trade Edward Fast. The event brought together CEOs from major Canadian players in the Russian market as well as shareholders and top management from their leading Russian partners, who discussed bilateral trade and investment issues. June 1 was a prelude to the meetings of the Intergovernmental Economic Commission (IEC) on June 2. From the Russian side, among participants in the Council were: H.E. Georgiy Mamedov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Canada; O. Betin, Head of the Tambov Oblast Administration; A. Krasnov, Executive Vice-President of the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games "Sochi 2014"; A. Dzhordzhadze, Deputy CEO, "2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia"; A. Tikhonov, First Deputy Chairman of the Board Vnesheconombank; A. Varichev, General Director of Holding Company METALLOINVEST JSC; Y. Kotliarov, General Manager, Moscow Branch Office, SNC-Lavalin; A. Sitnikov, SKOLKOVO; M. Lachinov, "Russian Venture Company"; D. Akhanov, RUSNANO and other representatives of government authorities and business circles. Among participants from Canada were: Joan Sloan, the Canadian Ambassador to the Russian Federation; Edward Fast, Minister of International Trade; Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agricultural; Nathan Hunt, Chairman of the National Board CERBA; David Paterson, Vice-President of the RIM-Blackberry; Chris Erickson, Partner of the Pangaea Ventures Ltd.; Andrew Cranston, Managing Partner KPMG; David Aylen, Managing Partner of the Gowlings International Inc.; Isabelle Des Chenes, Vice-President of the Forest Products Association of Canada; Michael McAdoo, Vice-President of the Bombardier Inc. and other representatives of government authorities and business circles. A significant number of positive developments occurred on both June 1 and 2 including partnerships and perspective agreements in the nanotechnology industry, aerospace, energy efficiency, construction, innovation and sports infrastructure.

As of June 2022, due to

Russia invading Ukraine on the 24th. of February 2022, Canada has imposed economic sanctions on Russia that will ban Canada from exporting services related to Russia's oil, gas, and chemical industries. These sanctions will act to have pressure to vacate territory that Canada recognizes as Ukrainian and occupied by Russian forces.[23]

Diplomatic relations

Further information: List of ambassadors of Canada to Russia and List of ambassadors of Russia to Canada
Embassy of Russia in Ottawa

Canada is officially represented in Russia by

an Embassy in Ottawa, two consulates-general (in Toronto and Montreal), and an Honorary Consulate in Vancouver. The Canadian ambassador to Russia is Alison LeClaire, appointed in October 2019.[24]
Russia's ambassador to Canada is Alexander Darchiev.

Membership in international organizations

Both countries cooperate in a number of bilateral and multilateral programs including the UN, APEC, and NATO-Russia Council. Active bilateral cooperation between the two countries began more than 35 years ago. Through the Arctic and North Working Group of the Canada-Russia IEC, both countries work together to develop a forward-looking agenda on northern cooperation. The Canadian International Development Agency's Russia Program, established in 1991, is a concrete demonstration of Canada's long term commitment to assist the process of reform and transition in Russia. The overall goal of the programme is to support the establishment of a stable, prosperous and democratic Russia with a well-developed market economy and efficient, responsive institutions.

Both countries are also members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the International Ice Hockey Federation in which both states enjoyed a rivalry in ice hockey.

Russian intelligence operations in Canada

Main article:
Russian influence operations in Canada

Operations that have been documented include:

Hugh Hambleton was established in Quebec in 1964 when Quebec established closer relations with France.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Canada-Sanctions-Related-to-Russia". Government of Canada. February 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "Russia imposes sanctions on 62 Canadian citizens". aas. May 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "Russia-Canada relations in a period of crisis". aas. April 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "Оборона от оборота". www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 2006-12-11. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  5. ^ Severnai͡a Amerika i Rossii͡a--ėkonomicheskie svi͡azi v ... godu (in Russian). Analiticheskiĭ t͡sentr "Polpred". 1999. p. 80.
  6. ISBN 978-3-8382-6783-8
    .
  7. ^ "Harper, Putin to meet at G8".
  8. ^ "Harper wanted Russia out of the old G8 even before Ukraine crisis".
  9. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  10. ^ "Global Partnership Against WMD Newsletter (September 2020)". us10.campaign-archive.com. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  11. ^ Mezhdunarodnai︠a︡ zhiznʹ (in Russian). Vses. ob-vo po rasprostranenii︠u︡ polit. i nauch. znaniĭ. 2008. p. 27.
  12. ^ "Russia outlines plan for 'unfriendly' investors to sell up at half-price". Reuters. 30 December 2022.
  13. ^ "MPs 'strongly condemn' Russia's actions in Ukraine". CTV. March 3, 2014.
  14. ^ "Publics Worldwide Unfavorable Toward Putin, Russia". Pew Research Center. December 5, 2017.
  15. ^ "Views of Russia and Putin remain negative across 14 nations". CTV. December 16, 2020.
  16. ^ "Canada considers amendments to sanctions regime targeting Russia". Borden Ladner Gervais S.E.N.C.R.L., S.R.L. 1 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Sanctions – Russian invasion of Ukraine". Government of Canada. February 24, 2022.
  18. ^ "Canada Closes Airspace to All Russian Carriers". VOA News. February 28, 2022.
  19. ^ "Canada to ban imports of crude oil from Russia". BBC. February 28, 2022.
  20. ^ "Canada's House backs a motion recognizing Russia's actions in Ukraine as genocide". NPR. April 28, 2022.
  21. ^ "Russia sanctions 61 more Canadians, including top Trudeau staffers, premiers, mayors and journalists". CTV. April 21, 2022.
  22. ^ "Russia sanctions 313 Canadians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau". Anadolu Agency. 15 March 2022.
  23. ^ Canada, Global Affairs (2022-06-08). "Canada imposes sanctions on Russian oil, gas and chemical industries". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  24. ^ Sevunts, Levons (25 October 2019). "Appointment of new Canadian ambassador to Russia raises hopes of detente". Radio Canada International. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  25. ^ a b Andrew & Mitrokhin 2000, p. 378.
  26. ^ Above the Tearline: Spies and Canadian Passports Archived 2010-07-12 at the Wayback Machine. Stratfor. July 8, 2010,
  27. ^ Russian Spies Are Alive, Well Insight on the News, March 8, 1999, by J. Michael Waller
  28. ^ Canada cites IWP professor to help deport Russian spy November 28, 2006.
  29. ^ Alleged Russian spies posed as Canadians in bid to penetrate Washington: US. The Canadian Press

Further reading

  • ISBN 0-465-00312-5
    .
  • Jackson, Nicole J. , “Canada, NATO, and Global Russia.” International Journal 73.2 (2018): 317-25, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0020702018786080.
  • Lackenbauer, P. Whitney. "Mirror images? Canada, Russia, and the circumpolar world." International Journal 65.4 (2010): 879-897.
  • Ladies, Przemysław. "The United States and Canada towards Russian Arctic Policy: State of Play and Development Prospects." Society and Politics 2 (63) (2020): 73-103. online
  • Macdonald, Laura, and Jeremy Paltiel. "Middle power or muddling power? Canada's relations with emerging markets." Canadian Foreign Policy Journal 22.1 (2016): 1-11. online
  • Roberts, Kari. "Understanding Russia's security priorities in the Arctic: why Canada-Russia cooperation is still possible." Canadian Foreign Policy Journal (2020): 1-17.
  • Sarty, Keigh. “The Fragile Authoritarians: China, Russia and Canadian Foreign Policy.” International Journal 75:4 (December 2020): 614-628. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0020702020968941. online review
  • Swettenham, John. Allied Intervention in Russia 1918-1919: and the part played by Canada (Routledge, 2017).
  • Wallace, Ron R. "Canada and Russia in an Evolving Circumpolar Arctic." in The Palgrave Handbook of Arctic Policy and Politics (Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2020) pp. 351-372. online

External links

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