'A badge of honour': B.C. premier among dozens of Canadians sanctioned by Russia
British Columbia Premier John Horgan was named among dozens of Canadian officials and journalists sanctioned by Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday.
The move comes two days after Canada announced a new round of sanctions against close associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin, including his two daughters.
The list of 61 Canadians newly banned from entering Russia includes the premiers of Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as the commanders of Canada's navy, air force, army and special operations forces.
Horgan says he considers his inclusion on the list "a badge of honour, not for myself but for British Columbia."
"The fact that we were able to catch the attention of a brutal dictator in the middle of an illegal invasion of a neighbour tells me that British Columbians stood up immediately and said we are going boycott Russian products, we are going to stand up and open our hearts and our homes to the Ukrainian people," Horgan said during a news conference Thursday.
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem and the prime minister's chief of staff Katie Telford are also on the sanctioned list.
The Russian foreign ministry says the new round of sanctions target those "directly involved in the development, substantiation and implementation of the Russophobic course of the ruling regime in Canada," adding they "are indefinitely prohibited from entering the Russian Federation."
The sanctions also apply to Canadian journalists, namely Globe and Mail correspondent Mark MacKinnon and National Post columnist John Ivison, as well as CTV News vice-president Michael Melling.
In response, Horgan said a visit to Russia is no longer on his "bucket list, if it ever was."
"If the Russians don't want me to visit, I had no plans to go," the premier said.
Horgan was among the first Canadian leaders to publicly condemn Russia's initial invasion of Ukraine in February, saying his government would stand with Ottawa in imposing sanctions against the country and would welcome Ukrainian refugees to B.C.
Russia had already banned many prominent Canadians from entering the country, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, members of his cabinet and MPs from other parties.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.