Canada bans Russian steel, aluminum imports as Joly raises 'regime change' in Moscow

Rolled steel is loaded onto a ship at the Mariupol Sea Port, on the territory which is under the Government of the Donetsk People's Republic control, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, June 12, 2022. This photo was taken during a trip organized by the Russian Ministry of Defence. (AP Photo)

OTTAWA -

Canada is banning the import of Russian steel and aluminum as part of its sanctions regime, as Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly raises the possibility of regime change in Moscow.

Joly made the remarks at a Friday press conference where she discussed the importance of maintaining a diplomatic presence in Moscow.

"We're able to see how much we're isolating the Russian regime right now -- because we need to do so economically, politically and diplomatically -- and what are the impacts also on society, and how much we're seeing potential regime change in Russia," she said.

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The Liberals have pushed for regime change in Iran, but Joly has not previously said the same about Russia. She said regime change is indeed the point of sanctions and pursuing accountability for alleged war crimes.

"The goal is definitely to do that, is to weaken Russia's ability to launch very difficult attacks against Ukraine. We want also to make sure that Putin and his enablers are held to account," she said.

"I always make a difference between the regime and the people of a given country, which is fundamental."

Also Friday, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced a ban on imports of steel and aluminum, which she said will help undermine Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Figures fromthe Department of Industry show that Canada imported $208 million in steel products from Russia in 2021 and $79 million last year.

Canada also imported $44 million in aluminum from Russia in 2021 and another $16 million last year.

Russia's trade with Canada plummeted over the first 10 months after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine a year ago, with a 78 per cent per cent drop in exports from the same period one year prior.

Ottawa's economic measures already bar the export of everything from forklifts to barbers' chairs, unless Canadian businesses convince the Liberal cabinet to issue exemptions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 10, 2023.