Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek is one of 43 Canadians added to a list of people banned from entering Russia. .“Canadian authorities imposed new sanctions against the management of Russian companies and members of their families, so we are permanently blocking entry to Russia for 43 Canadian citizens,” said the Russian Foreign Ministry in a Monday press release. .The list of Canadians included Liberal Party of Canada executive members, political advisors, and public figures. .Liberal Party of Canada chair Suzanne Cowan has been banned from Russia. Liberal national director Azam Ishmael was put on this list. .Four people who work in the Prime Minister’s Office were included on the list. Eight people who report to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland have been sanctioned. .Former personal advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Gerald Butts was included on the list. Conservative political strategists Jenni Byrne, Jeff Ballingall, and Fred DeLorey were sanctioned. .Macdonald-Laurier Institute senior fellow Charles Burton has been banned from entering Russia. University of Waterloo civil and environmental engineering professor Jatin Nathwani has been barred. .Ukrainian Canadian Congress board member Devon Sereda Goldie was included on the list. Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson has been banned. .“In conditions when the ruling regime in Canada, J. Trudeau, is stubbornly pursuing a course of militant Russophobia, the Russian side reserves the right to take countermeasures in response to the openly hostile actions of Ottawa,” said the Russian Foreign Ministry. .Alberta Premier Jason Kenney was added to the long list of Canadians prohibited from entering Russia in May. .Kenney said he had no plans to visit the Kremlin and that he was proud to be on the list..“Anyone who is on Vladimir Putin’s blacklist is, I think, on the right side of history,” he said. .Trudeau said Canada will no longer accept Russian crude oil imports in May. .“We are announcing our intention to ban all imports of crude oil from Russia — an industry that has benefited President Putin and his oligarchs greatly,” said Trudeau. .He said Canada will speed up Ukrainian immigration and will be giving anti-tank weapons and enhanced ammunitions to Ukraine..The City of Calgary could not be reached for comment in time for publication..Due to a high level of spam content being posted in our comment section below, all comments undergo manual approval by a staff member during regular business hours (Monday - Friday). Your patience is appreciated.
