B.C. pulls Russian liquor products from store shelves

B.C. is pulling Russian liquor products from local store shelves.

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Deputy Premier Mike Farnworth has announced “an immediate halt to the importing and sale of Russian liquor products” from BC Liquor Stores and provincial liquor distribution centres.

“We join the Prime Minister and allied nations in deploring Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Our province stands with those who understand Europe’s peace following two world wars depends on respecting international law,” Farnworth said.

“We stand with those who want to live in peace and against those who commit deplorable and illegal acts of aggression,” he added.

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The BC Liquor Stores website lists several products from Russia.

Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick have made similar moves in the sale of Russian liquor in their provinces.

Farnworth adds B.C. is donating $1 million to the Red Cross in support of people in Ukraine.

During a press conference Friday, Premier John Horgan condemned Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s military invasion of Ukraine and said the province supports any sanctions the federal government will impose on Russia.

Horgan said Putin’s actions are taking away the liberties of the Ukrainian people and threatening their lives.

“I stand with all British Columbians and indeed all Canadians condemning that activity,” he said. “Hoping Mr. Putin will see the egregious ways and the wrath of the International Committee will be sufficient for him to turn back on this horrific course that he is on.”

The Ukraine flag is flying outside of B.C.’s legislature.

Earlier Friday, Canada’s prime minister announced another round of sanctions against Russia and President Vladimir Putin, saying Canada’s government supports the removal of Russia from the SWIFT global banking system.

Canada will also impose sanctions on Russia’s Chief of Staff, Valery Gerasimov, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada has never sanctioned Putin personally, adding this move is “significant.”

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SWIFT, which stands for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, is established out of Belgium and handles payment requests and messages between 11,000 financial institutions across the world, delivering 42-million messages per day in 2021.

“President Putin has opened the darkest chapter yet in his assault on the Ukrainian people. But he has made a grave miscalculation,” Trudeau said.

“Canada, and increasingly the world, stand in our unwavering support of Ukraine.”

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U.S. President Joe Biden and NATO counterparts have agreed to send thousands of troops to help protect allies in Europe after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In addition to sanctions, Canada has also agreed to send hundreds of more troops to eastern Europe in response to the deployment of forces into Ukraine.

Canada has since banned the purchase of Russian sovereign debt and any financial dealing with the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.