Russia sanctions Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Toronto Mayor John Tory
The Russian Foreign Ministry has sanctioned Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor John Tory.
In a statement issued Thursday, Russian officials said that Ford, Tory, and 59 others involved in the “development, substantiation and implementation of the Russophobic course of the ruling regime in Canada” are now prohibited from entering Russia.
A full list of those sanctioned can be found here.
In response, a spokesperson for Ford said the premier has been clear, “Ontario stands with the people of Ukraine and our support will never waver.”
Tory also issued a statement saying he is proud to stand up for democracy and “against tyranny.”
“No sanctions will ever diminish my complete rejection of an illegal invasion and the terrible loss of innocent lives it has caused,” the statement read.
“My message to the leadership of Russia waging this illegal war remains the same: Stop this aggression and leave Ukraine. Slava Ukraini!"
Speaking on CP24 Thursday afternoon, Tory added the sanction was the equivalent of "show business," adding he had no plans to visit Russia.
"I don't have any yachts to be seized or companies in Russia that they can take over, so they did the best they could I guess, which is to take me and Doug Ford and a whole bunch of other Canadians and say we couldn't visit the country," the mayor said.
"I don't know why they would be surprised that I, someone w ho was elected in a thriving democracy in the City of Toronto, would speak out against tyranny and speak out in favour of democracy and a free Ukraine."
The mayor added he is "delighted" Russian officials are listening to Canadians, but that he would rather them act and withdraw from Ukraine.
The sanctions were announced as the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its 57th day.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 10,000 Canadians received a medically-assisted death in 2021: report
More Canadians are ending their lives with a medically-assisted death, says the third federal annual report on medical assistance in dying (MAID). Data shows that 10,064 people died in 2021 with medical aid, an increase of 32 per cent over 2020.

Author Salman Rushdie on ventilator after he was stabbed on lecture stage in New York
Salman Rushdie, whose novel 'The Satanic Verses' drew death threats from Iran's leader in the 1980s, was stabbed in the neck and abdomen Friday by a man who rushed the stage as the author was about to give a lecture in western New York.
Anne Heche legally dead, remains on life support for donor evaluation
Anne Heche remains on life support and under evaluation for organ donation after a car crash that led to her brain death, a representative for the actor said Friday.
FBI seized 'top secret' documents from Trump home
The FBI recovered documents that were labelled 'top secret' from former U.S. President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, according to court papers released Friday after a federal judge unsealed the warrant that authorized the unprecedented search this week.
Passengers tackle Canadian man after he became violent, tried to open plane doors mid-flight
A plane bound for Toronto has been forced to divert to Iceland after a Canadian man allegedly became violent and tried to open the aircraft door mid-air.
Canadian who sold his possessions, used up his savings to deliver aid in Ukraine makes a plea for help
Canadian Adam Oake is among volunteers delivering aid to civilians in Ukraine, but he says donations are drying up and he's issuing a plea for help.
Canadian universities earned record-high surplus revenues during COVID-19: StatCan
Canadian universities reported record-high surplus revenues in wake of the pandemic as schools took advantage of last year's strong stock market performance.
EXCLUSIVE | Woman who was stalked by police officer ex-boyfriend says justice system failed her
Despite a police misconduct probe that found a high-ranking B.C. officer had stalked and harassed his ex-girlfriend for years, a criminal investigation into the case did not result in charges.
Canada to test wastewater for polio
Canada plans to start testing wastewater for poliovirus in a number of cities “as soon as possible” following new reports of cases abroad, the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed on Friday.