Secretary of State Melanie Joly says Canada is working with its allies but declined to say if that meant sending armored vehicles to Ukraine.

The Associated Press reports that US officials say Washington will authorize the sending of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine to help that country fight Russia, while Germany has announced that it will accept Poland’s request to send Leopard -2 tanks to Ukraine.

The Canadian Forces have 112 Leopard 2 tanks, and some analysts say Ottawa can only deliver a small number without impacting its own training and operational needs.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland also does not say whether Canada wants to send armored vehicles to Ukraine.

Nonetheless, Ms Freeland told reporters at a cabinet meeting in Hamilton on Monday that Ukraine’s victory would boost the global economy.

Canada is one of the largest per capita contributors to Ukraine’s war effort, partly out of economic self-interest, she noted.

“This economic battlefield is very important,” she said. A clear, strategically viable and stable Ukrainian victory this year would be a big boost for the global economy and a big boost for Canada.”

Conservative defense critic James Bezan said he supports what liberals have been sending to Ukraine so far and urged them to consider shipping more military equipment, which will soon be replaced.

In his opinion, Ottawa should consider sending tanks if it does not endanger the country’s basic needs. Mr Bezan pointed out that reports to Parliament indicate dozens of Canada’s light armored vehicles are set to be replaced soon.

“We can do more, especially where we have excess material,” he said in an interview.

“If we send one of our tanks, we need to make sure tanks are bought in to replace whatever comes out of this country.”

Mr. Bezan recalled that Canada has already made a significant contribution with equipment such as armored personnel carriers that move soldiers to different combat zones.

However, he hinted that the Liberals might consider sending lightly armored vehicles, known as LAVs, if they want to keep up with their allies sending tanks to Ukraine.

“If we are to get the Russian military out of Ukraine, we need more combat vehicles, and this is where our LAVs become essential to help Ukraine win this battle.”

But the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress is urging the government to do more.

“The Leopard 2 tanks are crucial for the liberation of all Ukrainian territories under Russian occupation,” the group’s president, Alexandra Chyczij, said in a press release.

“Congress urges the Canadian government to join the growing coalition of nations supplying Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks.”