One Liberal foreign policy official says framing the Conservatives as soft on Ukraine won’t help the country fend off Russian aggression.
Toronto MP Rob Oliphant is Parliamentary Secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, and travels to events at home and abroad on her behalf.
Mr Oliphant told a House of Commons committee on Wednesday that there was no question that the Conservative Party supported Ukraine and that “political gamesmanship” would do nothing to help the country.
His comments come months after the Liberals began criticizing the Conservatives over their position on the latest Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Bill, which was passed this week.
The Conservatives said they disagree with language in the deal that both countries would promote a carbon price and reiterated their insistence on imposing a carbon tax on Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed the updated agreement, and the country has already introduced a carbon price.
The Ukrainian Canadian Parliament also criticized the Conservative Party’s position, and the Liberal Party launched an attack ad about Conservative MPs voting in the Prairie election, which involves a large number of members of the Ukrainian diaspora.
Despite his party accusing the Conservatives of “turning their backs on Ukraine”, Oliphant said he did not believe that was true.
“I believe that the Canadian people’s commitment (to Ukraine) is unwavering, and despite all the political games that we’re playing, I believe that the opposition’s commitment is unwavering,” he said.
“It may be annoying to say this, but I believe it. And only if we do that will we move forward. There is no need to play games with this.”
Analysts have repeatedly said that the Russian government is trying to drive a wedge between and within Western countries over the level of support for Ukraine.
Asked about his comments, Mr Oliphant made clear he felt the Conservative Party was still part of the problem.
“The Conservatives run politics with free trade and carbon pricing, but are likely to support Ukraine in a war with Russia,” he said in a text message.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada told MPs that he believes sanctions are having a real impact on Russia, but is concerned that Canadian military equipment remains in Russian hands. expressed.
