Freeland Holds Fast on Ukraine War Despite Canadians’ Waning Support for Funding

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa on Oct. 24, 2023. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said it is in Canada’s “national interest” for Ukraine to win its war against Russia, following a poll that showed Canadians’ support of sending further aid to the country is waning.

“Yes, the war is happening in Ukraine. However, it is also a war for us. Why? Because Ukrainians are fighting for international order; the rules-based order,” Ms. Freeland said during a Feb. 6 press conference.

“This is the first time since World War II that a country is actually trying to change international borders through the means of war. Allowing this threatens all other countries in the world, and especially Canada.”

Ms. Freeland was responding to a question about a new Angus Reid poll, which found 25 percent of Canadians believe the country is doing too much to assist Ukraine in its war. Back in May 2022, three months after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, the number of Canadians who felt Canada was doing too much for the country sat at just 13 percent.

At the same time, the number of Canadians who believe the country is not doing enough to support Ukraine has fallen from 38 percent two years ago, to just 19 percent now. Conservative voters appear to be the most hesitant to support Ukraine further, with 43 percent saying Canada is doing too much to support the country, compared to 10 percent of Liberals and 12 percent of NDP voters.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes,” and has provided the country with aid totalling $9.5 billion since February 2022, including $4.95 billion in direct financial support and $1.8 billion in military aid.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Canada has provided the highest per-capita direct financial support to Ukraine among G7 countries. At the same time, Ottawa announced last November that the Department of National Defence had been asked to cut its spending by $1 billion.

Liberals accused the Conservative Party of abandoning their support for Ukraine after they voted against legislation updating the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement back in November 2023. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said his party voted against the bill due to language in it that says both countries will “promote carbon pricing,” which is a policy he has aggressively campaigned against in Canada.

‘National Interest at Stake’

When asked if Canada would consider reducing its aid to Ukraine, Ms. Freeland reiterated that it was important for Canadians that Ukraine wins its war. She said Russian Leader Vladimir Putin “wants to change the world,” and that Russia is a “worldwide expert in disinformation.”

Ms. Freeland said while the world order has been one where countries vie to be the most prosperous in a “win-win” competition, Russia is attempting to “rewrite the rules” to create a world where the countries with the largest armies control the others.

“This would not be a good world for Canadians. And that’s why we do have a national interest at stake in this war. And we mustn’t be naive,” Ms. Freeland added.

Treasury Board President Anita Anand, who was formerly the defense minister before a cabinet shuffle last summer, added that Canada’s support for Ukraine is also a matter of working with international and NATO allies.

“Our role will be to continue to stand up for the principles that we began with in support of Ukraine. That set of principles included ensuring that we stand up for the international rules-based order,” she said.