Canada showers Ukraine with more military support this time donating 200 armoured vehicles after the country requested tanks to defend itself from Russia.
Defence Minister Anita Anand dropped into visit the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv with a surprise announce of the next splurging of Canadian taxpayer money.
The 200 armoured vehicles comes with a price tag of $90 million, The vehicles are Senator Armoured Personnel Carriers which are being purchased from Roshel, a company based in Mississauga, Ont.
“During today’s productive visit to Kyiv, I met with Ukrainian officials… to learn about Ukraine’s most pressing security needs, and to reaffirm Canada’s steadfast support,” said Anand.
The announcement comes on the heels of a statement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday saying the government is still exploring a separate request from Ukraine for Leopard 2 tanks.
Canada purchased 100 Leopard 2 tanks 16 years ago from Germany with an estimated price tag of $1.3 million which includes the purchase price and long-term maintenance, approximately $13 million per tank.
Anand made her announcement a week after Canada gave Ukraine a $400 million National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) that Canada desperately needs for itself and defence officials had been attempting to buy since they decommissioned their sole missile-based air defence system more than ten years ago.
Critics wonder why Canada has already spent more than $1 billion to provide Ukraine with military hardware that our own armed forces have been attempting to acquire for years.
Anand said Canada can disarm itself of armoured vehicles and tanks because the Liberal government finally purchased 88 F-35 fighter jets Canada needed year ago. The Stephen Harper government secured a contract to purchase F-35 fighter jets which the Trudeau Liberals eliminated as soon as they came into power 7 years ago.
“Canada will continue to collaborate with the United States, as well as other Allies and partners, to address Ukraine’s defence priorities in the short and long term,” Anand said.
According to the federal government, since Russian soldiers entered Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Canada has provided about $5 billion Canadian taxpayer dollars to Ukraine for financial, humanitarian, and other assistance such as paying the Ukrainian government officials salaries.
