Conservative MP James Bezan says Canada should send lethal weapons to Ukraine as the country hopes to ward off a potential invasion by Russian troops.
Liberal, Conservative and NDP members of Parliament had different answers to Evan Solomon鈥檚 question on CTV鈥檚 Power Play Tuesday asking them if Canada should send arms to Ukraine.
鈥淩ight now our goal is de-escalate the situation,鈥� said Liberal MP Rob Oliphant, the foreign affairs parliamentary secretary. 鈥淭he burden is on Russia to do that and we have been very clear about that.鈥�
Bezan, his party鈥檚 deputy opposition whip, told Power Play he was disappointed Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly went to Kyiv and 鈥渄idn鈥檛 offer anything to the government of Ukraine.鈥�
Bezan said his party has been calling for years on the Liberals to deliver weapons to Ukraine.
NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson argued Canada should not send weapons to Ukraine, saying Canada has not explored every diplomatic tool in its arsenal.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think this is the time to be giving arms to the Ukraine,鈥� she told Power Play.
Joly met with her Ukrainian counterpart Tuesday and pledged to help Ukraine build up its capabilities against a potential Russian invasion. She said the government will make a decision on sending weapons in a 鈥渢imely manner.鈥�
The MPs debate Canada鈥檚 response to Ukraine in the video at the top of this article.
