WINNIPEG — Justin Trudeau on Friday announced sanctions would be imposed on 35 more Russians and Ottawa would issue bonds for Canadians to buy in support of Ukraine’s government.

The prime minister said that among the 35 people now targeted by Canadian sanctions are influential leaders of state-owned Gazprom and six energy sector companies.

In addition, Canadian banks are offering investors “Ukrainian Sovereignty Bonds” with a term of five years. The money will be channeled directly to Ukraine through the International Monetary Fund, says the Canadian government, which specifies that yields will be announced “soon”.

Prime Minister Trudeau made the announcements Friday morning in Winnipeg, home of the Ukraine-Canada Triennial Convention.

During his visit to Winnipeg, Mr. Trudeau was also due to receive a formal request from the Manitoba government to Ottawa for more money to be provided to help Ukrainians fleeing the war.

Prime Minister Heather Stefanson says Manitoba is fortunate to have welcomed nearly 12,000 Ukrainians since the Russian invasion began last February. But she says she needs more money to provide housing, health care and education services to these newcomers.

Ms Stefanson says Manitoba has received more than 10% of all Ukrainian refugees who have come to Canada, while the province represents only 4% of Canada’s population. “They are not declared refugees and do not have refugee status that normally comes with federal funds,” Stefanson lamented in an interview Thursday.

“[Le fédéral] plays a role here; he should. And we had talks with [Ottawa]but that won’t stop us from doing what we’re doing in the meantime. [en soutenant les Ukrainiens].”

Punish

Speaking to members of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress on Friday morning, Mr. Trudeau reiterated that the war in Ukraine “must end in defeat for Putin.”

Canada has “imposed the toughest sanctions ever imposed on any major economy, including Russia’s central bank,” he argued.

Ottawa says it has sanctioned more than 1,400 individuals and organizations since February. They target Vladimir Putin’s “accomplices”, the oligarchs “who facilitate his actions” and the lawmakers “who condoned the brutalities” committed against Ukrainians.

“And we intend to impose new sanctions on members of Russia’s judicial and security sectors, including police and investigators, prosecutors, judges and prison officials; anyone implicated in gross and systematic human rights abuses against Russian opposition leaders,” continued Mr. Trudeau.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Trudeau on social media. “Thank you to my friend Justin Trudeau for today’s announcement. The Canadian government-guaranteed Ukrainian government bonds will allow everyone to contribute to our victory,” he wrote.

The Ukrainian-Canadian Congress says support from Canada and other allies helped Ukraine withstand the invasion that began more than 240 days ago and the bonds will help pave the way for peace.