In a report to Parliament, the Cabinet admitted that despite 20 months of sanctions, they had not seized any Russian assets in Canada..According to Blacklock’s Reporter, a Russian cargo plane, which is the only asset in Canadian custody, is still undergoing evaluation..“The seized aircraft has been grounded at Pearson International Airport in Toronto since February 2022,” the cabinet wrote in an Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the Commons. Federal inspectors were to “evaluate the condition of the asset.”.“Further steps towards potential forfeiture of this asset will be taken in due course,” said the Inquiry. .After the cabinet issued an order on February 27, 2022, banning Russian aircraft from entering Canadian airspace, a cargo plane owned by Volga-Dnepr Airlines was stranded in Toronto..Cabinet has announced freezing millions in Russian cash in Canada under Special Economic Measures Regulations. None has been expropriated to date. The RCMP on May 17 claimed a total of $135.7 million in assets were “effectively frozen” but did not elaborate..On December 19, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said that Canada would seize US$26 million from a company managed by a Russian oligarch, Granite Capital Holdings Ltd..“This is the first time Canada is using its new authorities that allowed the government to pursue the seizure of assets,” Joly said at the time. However, nothing had been done since, said the Inquiry..“The next stage of government action would be a ministerial application to the Superior Court of the province in which the asset is located for its forfeiture to the Crown,” said the Inquiry. .“Work to support this next stage is currently underway.”.The disclosures were prompted by a request from Conservative MP Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan, AB) who asked “With regard to the Special Economic Measures Regulations and pursuing the forfeiture of assets of sanctioned Russians, how many have had their assets seized?” .Opposition MPs have requested information and specifics regarding the sanctions imposed by Canada against Russia..“It doesn’t matter how many there are, it doesn’t matter who is being sanctioned if Canada can choose to waive those sanctions or if those sanctions aren’t being enforced,” New Democrat MP Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona, AB) told an August 4, 2022 hearing of the Commons Foreign Affairs committee. .“If the sanctions regime isn’t working, it doesn’t really matter how many sanctions you have.”.On July 9, 2022, the Cabinet granted a waiver, exempting a natural gas turbine from its own sanctions. This turbine was allowed to be shipped to Germany for use by Gazprom, Russia's state-run gas company..“We’ve gained nothing,” Orest Zakydalsky, senior policy advisor to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, said at the time.
In a report to Parliament, the Cabinet admitted that despite 20 months of sanctions, they had not seized any Russian assets in Canada..According to Blacklock’s Reporter, a Russian cargo plane, which is the only asset in Canadian custody, is still undergoing evaluation..“The seized aircraft has been grounded at Pearson International Airport in Toronto since February 2022,” the cabinet wrote in an Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the Commons. Federal inspectors were to “evaluate the condition of the asset.”.“Further steps towards potential forfeiture of this asset will be taken in due course,” said the Inquiry. .After the cabinet issued an order on February 27, 2022, banning Russian aircraft from entering Canadian airspace, a cargo plane owned by Volga-Dnepr Airlines was stranded in Toronto..Cabinet has announced freezing millions in Russian cash in Canada under Special Economic Measures Regulations. None has been expropriated to date. The RCMP on May 17 claimed a total of $135.7 million in assets were “effectively frozen” but did not elaborate..On December 19, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said that Canada would seize US$26 million from a company managed by a Russian oligarch, Granite Capital Holdings Ltd..“This is the first time Canada is using its new authorities that allowed the government to pursue the seizure of assets,” Joly said at the time. However, nothing had been done since, said the Inquiry..“The next stage of government action would be a ministerial application to the Superior Court of the province in which the asset is located for its forfeiture to the Crown,” said the Inquiry. .“Work to support this next stage is currently underway.”.The disclosures were prompted by a request from Conservative MP Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan, AB) who asked “With regard to the Special Economic Measures Regulations and pursuing the forfeiture of assets of sanctioned Russians, how many have had their assets seized?” .Opposition MPs have requested information and specifics regarding the sanctions imposed by Canada against Russia..“It doesn’t matter how many there are, it doesn’t matter who is being sanctioned if Canada can choose to waive those sanctions or if those sanctions aren’t being enforced,” New Democrat MP Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona, AB) told an August 4, 2022 hearing of the Commons Foreign Affairs committee. .“If the sanctions regime isn’t working, it doesn’t really matter how many sanctions you have.”.On July 9, 2022, the Cabinet granted a waiver, exempting a natural gas turbine from its own sanctions. This turbine was allowed to be shipped to Germany for use by Gazprom, Russia's state-run gas company..“We’ve gained nothing,” Orest Zakydalsky, senior policy advisor to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, said at the time.
