Canada PoliticsSaskatchewan and Manitoba governments consider ban on Russian booze, Ontario will leave sanctions to feds
Heed this Putin: the governments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are considering a ban on Russian liquor sales in protest to Moscow's heavy-handedness in Ukraine.
Talk of such measures were sparked in Manitoba on Wednesday, when that province's Progressive Conservatives released this statement.
We will be judged by our actions more than our words. While governments around the world talk about the Russian insurgence into Ukraine we are asking the NDP to take action.
“We are asking the NDP to take action to show the Russians that Manitoba is serious about its condemnation of Russia’s actions in Ukraine,” said Culture Heritage, MLCC Critic Ron Schuler. “When good men and women stay silent, those with evil intentions win."
We were pleased to stand with the NDP and independent members last week to express our support of the people of Ukraine. We now believe it is time to take action and are calling on the minister to remove Russian-made products from MLCC store shelves until this international crisis is resolved.
According to CBC News, the NDP government is actually considering it.
And on Thursday, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, mused about it as well.
"I know when I was first told of the option from some senior staff that maybe we should look at it, I thought it is worth looking at," he said, according to the Canadian Press, noting that he wants to discuss the idea with the federal government to see what sanctions they're working on.
"I mean it’s a small thing, but we can make a strong statement about what’s going on in terms of Russia and Ukraine by a relatively small measure and so it’s worth considering."
[ Related: Putin completes Russia's annexation of Crimea; Ukraine, EU agree to pact ]
With all due respect, these proclamations reek of political opportunism: these governments and opposition parties are trying to score political points.
Don't the provincial governments have other things to worry about: health care, education, balancing their books?
International affairs should be the jurisdiction of the federal government. Any economic sanctions against another country should be national, not piecemeal, and done in coordination with our international partners.
If individuals want to stop drinking Russian booze that great, but it's another thing to use government time and resources for a symbolic measure that does absolutely nothing.
[ Related: Stephen Harper to make historic stop in Ukraine on trip to Europe ]
Thankfully, Canada's largest province isn't taking part in this sort of public relations campaign.
"Premier Wynne has taken a leadership role in response to the political unrest in Ukraine and Russia, by debating the issue of having the Ukrainian flag flown at Queen’s Park and pledging aid. Earlier this month, Ontario announced $100,000 in humanitarian aid for the people of Ukraine," Kelly Baker, the press secretary for the Ontario premier, told Yahoo Canada News.
"The federal government would determine whether any economic sanctions would be imposed."
What do you think?
Should provincial governments and opposition parties be using their time and resources on an issue like this?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
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