Russian aircrafts prohibited at Mississauga’s Pearson Airport and all Canadian airspace
Published February 27, 2022 at 1:32 pm
In response to the Russian leadership’s invasion of Ukraine, the federal government has announced that it’s closing Canada’s airspace to all Russian aircraft operators, which will affect Pearson Airport in Mississauga.
The announcement was made today by Minister of Transport and MP for Mississauga Centre Omar Alghabra, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly.
Effective immediately, Canada is prohibiting the operation of Russian-owned, chartered or operated aircraft in Canadian airspace, including in the airspace above Canada’s territorial waters.
The airspace closure will remain until further notice.
“All of Canada is united in its outrage of President Putin’s aggression against Ukraine,” said Alghabra.
“In response, we have closed Canadian airspace to Russian-owned or operated aircraft. The Government of Canada condemns Russia’s aggressive actions and we will continue to take action to stand with Ukraine.”
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Joly says Canada will continue to do everything it can against the Russian regime’s aggression.
“We are united with our allies in our unwavering support to Ukraine and are working to bring this unprovoked war to an end,” she said.
Members of Mississauga’s Ukrainian community said earlier this week they are deeply concerned for family members and friends in their homeland after Russia launched an invasion of the sovereign nation, with widespread reports that explosions were heard throughout Ukraine as Russian troops moved inside its borders.
Mississauga mayor Bonnie Crombie, like numerous political leaders at all levels of government in Canada and around the world, expressed outrage at Russia’s aggression in targeting a sovereign country.
“I encourage the federal government to impose the harshest sanctions possible for this egregious act of aggression,” said Crombie, who then turned her thoughts to Mississauga’s people of Ukrainian descent. “I want to send a message of support to members of our Ukrainian community. My thoughts are with you and with your loved ones.”
With files from Declan Finucane
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