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Canada Commits $235 Million in New Aid to Ukraine at NATO Summit

  Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand speaks with the media as she arrives for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on Wednesday.  Canada has announced a significant new package of support for Ukraine, pledging $235 million in funding during meetings of NATO ministers in Brussels and The Hague. The announcement was made by National Defence Minister David McGuinty and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand , underscoring Canada’s ongoing commitment to Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s war of aggression. Key Details of the Announcement $200 million will go toward NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) , a package of critical military capabilities sourced from the United States and valued at approximately USD $500 million . These capabilities were specifically identified by Ukraine as urgent needs to strengthen its defense. An additional $35 million will support NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine , which provides medical supplies,...
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Canadian Manufacturers of COVID-19 Protective Equipment Sue Ottawa for $5 Billion in Damages

 

Canadian manufacturers who produce masks and other protective equipment to combat COVID-19 are pursuing legal action against the federal government, seeking more than $5 billion in damages. Their claim alleges that Ottawa misled them regarding the purchase and promotion of their products.

In a statement of claim filed in Federal Court, the companies and their industry association assert that the government made “negligent misrepresentations” that led them to invest in personal protective equipment innovations, manufacturing, and production. These misrepresentations spanned a three-year period starting in March 2020. The companies and the Canadian Association of PPE Manufacturers contend that the government provided misleading information about markets, direct assistance, flexible procurement, and long-term support.

The Canadian government had communicated through an initiative called Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Industry to fight COVID-19 that there would be new measures to directly support businesses in rapidly scaling up production or retooling their manufacturing lines. However, despite identifying masks and respirators as vital items for an airborne pandemic, the government did not contract with the Canadian companies, invoking a national security exception for procurement. Furthermore, in June 2021, the government allegedly promised a 10-year contract with the industry association and businesses to compensate for not purchasing protective equipment from domestic firms.

The companies claim that these misrepresentations resulted in approximately $88 million in investment losses and a further $5.4 billion in projected lost market opportunities over a ten-year period. They emphasize that this promise came from the highest levels of the Canadian government and was propagated across all relevant departments.

As the court case proceeds, the federal government will have an opportunity to respond to these unproven allegations. The manufacturers’ “special relationship” with the government, born out of a duty of care to small- and medium-sized businesses, underscores the significance of this legal battle.

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