By Alexander Schummer

TORONTO, (Reuters) – Canada will shut down its ports to Russian ships in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine later this week, Omar Alghabra from Transport Ministry said Tuesday.

Canada has taken several measures to punish Russia President Vladimir Putin. Canada also shut down Canadian airspace for Russian planes. Canada is also preventing Canadian financial institutions and banks from trading with Russia’s central banking as part the Western countries’ efforts to isolate Russia.

Alghabra stated that Russia must be accountable for the invasion of Ukraine. We are closing Canadian ports and waters to Russian-owned ships. He said that we will not stop fighting for Ukraine.”

Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, banned Russian imports on Monday

Statistics Canada data shows that Canada exported goods worth C$2.14 million ($1.68 billion), from Russia in 2021. The most important categories of imports were metals and minerals. Rubber, chemicals and plastics were also included.

Alghabra indicated that although the Russian ship entering Canadian waters is small, the impact will be significant with the other countries taking the same steps.

Russia makes up less than 2% of Port of Montreal’s annual containerized volumes. According to port representatives, the ban will not have any commercial consequences.

($1 = 1.2738 Canadian dollars)