‘I didn’t know’: Canada’s foreign affairs minister on rep attending Russian embassy party

Canada’s foreign affairs minister says she personally did not have advance knowledge that an official in her department was set to attend a reception at the Russian embassy, despite reports from the Globe and Mail that her office did know.

“No, I didn’t know. I didn’t know and that’s why I’m frustrated, of course. But of course, I’m the minister. So of course, the buck stops here and that’s why I’m telling you that it should not have happened,” Melanie Joly said Tuesday, refuting claims that her office was aware of the attendance.

This is unacceptable. No Canadian representative should have attended the event hosted at the Russian embassy & no Canadian representative will attend this kind of event again.
continues to stand with as it fights against Russia’s egregious invasion. https://t.co/azkvbhupiv pic.twitter.com/iZ2zRn1gJj

— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) June 12, 2022

“This should never have happened, this will not happen again, and I had a tough conversation with my team and also with my deputy minister. I’m as angry as you and as Canadians watching us right now,” she said.

The government is facing criticism, with opposition members wondering how anyone thought it was a good idea to attend an event at the Russian embassy, as Russia is invading Ukraine and Canada is actively sanctioning and condemning the Putin regime.

Trudeau pressed by Conservatives

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also on the defensive Tuesday, when he was pressed by the Conservatives on the matter.

“The prime minister and his foreign affairs minister claim to be great friends of Ukraine. I hope he apologized to President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, because what kind of friend sends a delegate to their enemy’s house to enjoy champagne and caviar?” Tory interim Leader Candice Bergen asked in Question Period.

“I can assure the leader of the Opposition and indeed all Canadians that President Zelensky and I had an extremely positive conversation where this issue did not come up because obviously there are much more important issues, like how we are continuing to deliver munitions that are desperately needed by Ukrainians, how we continue to mobilize international support for Ukraine in condemning Russia, how we continue to engage every single day to stand up for Ukraine, and indeed how Canada is so completely and totally unequivocal in its support for Ukraine and its condemnation of Russia,” Trudeau said in response to Bergen.

According to the initial report by the Globe and Mail, a senior Global Affairs representative was sent to attend a Russia Day celebration at the Russian Embassy in Ottawa Friday night.

The reception was at the embassy on Charlotte Street, which was recently renamed Free Ukraine Street by the City of Ottawa, the publication notes, adding the event went ahead despite protesters outside decrying Russia’s invasion of its smaller neighbour.