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Under-resourced sanctions regime leaves Ottawa in the dark, internal review says

The federal government’s enthusiasm for laying sanctions on thousands of foreigners has made it harder for Canadians to understand and comply with the sanctions regime and exposes Ottawa to lawsuits, an internal review says.

The findings come as the Conservatives call for Canada to slap sanctions on those behind transnational repression.

“The urgency and frequency of new sanctions packages put intense pressure on operations, limited the ability to conduct research to further support listings and other decisions, and created legal risks,” reads the internal evaluation report dated March, 2025.

© Richard Drew

Canada Foreign Minister Anita Anand addresses the United Nations General Assembly, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
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Ottawa summoned Russian ambassador over drone incursion into Poland, Anand says

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand and Minister of National Defence David McGuinty in Edmonton on Wednesday.

Global Affairs Canada summoned Russian ambassador Oleg Stepanov over the incursion of Russian drones into Poland this week, as Ottawa looks to help a new effort by the NATO military alliance reinforce its eastern flank.

The summoning occurred hours after Poland reported multiple Russian drones had entered Polish territory between Tuesday and Wednesday. NATO allies shot down some of the devices.

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Incursion de drones en Pologne | Ottawa a convoqué l’ambassadeur de la Russie

Affaires mondiales Canada a convoqué l’ambassadeur de Russie au Canada, Oleg Stepanov, au sujet de l’incursion de drones russes en Pologne cette semaine, alors qu’Ottawa cherche à soutenir un nouvel effort de l’alliance militaire de l’Organisation du traité de l’Atlantique Nord (OTAN) pour renforcer son flanc oriental.

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Incursion de drones en Pologne | Mark Carney appelle à plus de pression sur Moscou

Le ministre canadien de la Défense refuse de préciser si le Canada a joué un rôle dans la destruction des drones russes qui ont violé l’espace aérien polonais dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi. Cependant, le premier ministre a appelé la communauté internationale à intensifier la pression sur la Russie pour qu’elle mette fin à sa guerre contre l’Ukraine.

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NDP proposes closing loophole that could let U.S. buy Canadian weapons for Israel

NDP MP Jenny Kwan in the Foyer of the House of Commons in Ottawa, in November of 2024. Kwan says she plans to table a private members' bill to enforce stricter arms export controls.

NDP MP Jenny Kwan will be asking Parliament to close a loophole that could allow the U.S. to purchase Canadian weapons for Israel, despite a ban on arms exports to that country.

Kwan will be speaking this morning on Parliament Hill about a private members’ bill she plans to table later this month “to ensure Canadian weapons and military components are not used to fuel human rights abuses abroad,” according to a statement from her office.

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Poilievre calls for Liberals to end temporary foreign worker program

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre at a press conference in Mississauga, Ont., on Wednesday. He argues that a jobs crisis among young people has been caused partly by corporations hiring foreigners instead of Canadian citizens.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the Liberals to scrap the temporary foreign worker program and stop issuing visas under the program, arguing it has caused an employment crisis among young Canadians.

“The Liberals have to answer why is it that they’re shutting our own youth out of jobs and replacing them with low-wage, temporary foreign workers from poor countries who are ultimately being exploited,” Poilievre told a news conference Wednesday morning in Mississauga, Ont.

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Anand says she has ‘utmost confidence’ in Canadian ICC judge sanctioned by Trump administration

Canadian judge Kimberly Prost was among several senior ICC officials sanctioned by the Trump administration in August.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says she spoke today with the Canadian judge facing American sanctions for her work at an international tribunal, without condemning Washington’s decision.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month announced sanctions on International Criminal Court judges including Kimberly Prost for her work on a case involving American troops in Afghanistan.

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Canada, India appoint new envoys in sign of improving relations

The Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, India, in 2024. Canada and India both appointed new high commissioners.

Canada and India named seasoned diplomats as their new high commissioners Thursday, as both gradually soothe diplomatic tensions over transnational repression and Sikh separatism 10 months after expelling each other’s top envoys.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Christopher Cooter will be Canada’s new high commissioner to India. Anand’s department said Cooter has served as a diplomat for 35 years, including postings in Israel and South Africa, as well as in New Delhi 25 years ago.

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Canada joins international call to protect Gaza journalists, allow foreign media

Canada and others condemned Israel for killing Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif.

Canada has signed onto a multi-country statement that demands Israel stop banning foreign journalists from entering Gaza and that local journalists be protected in the Palestinian territories.

Canada co-founded the Media Freedom Coalition in 2020 and has signed dozens of statements on issues in Hong Kong, Sudan and previously the West Bank.

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Canada absent in multi-nation statement calling on Israel to protect Gaza journalists, allow foreign media

The destroyed tent where journalists were killed by an Israeli airstrike, Aug. 11. The statement comes after Canada and others condemned Israel for deliberately killing six journalists earlier this month, including Al Jazeera reporter Anas Al-Sharif.

Canada has taken the rare step of not signing onto a multi-country statement that demands Israel stop banning foreign journalists from entering Gaza and that local journalists be protected in the Palestinian territories.

Ottawa co-founded the Media Freedom Coalition in 2020 and has signed more than 65 statements on issues ranging from legislation in Georgia and arrests in Venezuela, to Burkina Faso sanctioning journalists and Russia detaining Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

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