Saskatchewan assured sanctions on Russian oligarch won’t affect Evraz workers: Moe

REGINA — Premier Scott Moe says Ottawa has assured his government that Canada’s sanctions on a Russian oligarch will not affect workers at a steel mill in Saskatchewan.

Roman Abramovich is one of five Russian oligarchs that was added Friday to the Canadian sanctions list for having close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who continues to invade Ukraine.

Abramovich is a major shareholder in Evraz, a U.K.-based multinational manufacturing company that operates a mill in Regina.

Trudeau said the federal government will try to ensure that its sanctions against Abramovich don’t hurt workers at the Regina mill.

“We have been assured these sanctions will not negatively impact the mill, and we will continue to engage with the federal government to ensure that continues to be the case,” Moe said Friday.

Evraz, which also has facilities in Alberta, is one of the Saskatchewan capital’s largest employers. Evraz North America did not respond to a request for comment.

The United Steelworkers union, which represents more than 1,000 Evraz workers in Saskatchewan and Alberta, said it supports the sanctions on Abramovich but warns the measures “must not imperil the livelihoods” of its members.

“Our members produce high-quality Canadian steel used in domestic projects and they have no ties to Russia,” Scott Lunny, the union’s director for Western Canada and the territories said in a statement.

“The Prime Minister says the sanctions will not impact domestic workers at Evraz and we will hold his feet to the fire to ensure Canadian workers will not be harmed by the sanctions imposed on Abramovich.”

Abramovich is the largest shareholder in Evraz. He owns more than 28 per cent of the company’s capital. Three other Russian oligarchs — none of whom have been sanctioned by Canada — also own shares in Evraz.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney praised the new sanctions.

“I’m glad to hear the Canadian government has taken those measures,” said Kenney, who previously called on the federal government to freeze the Canadian assets of all of Putin’s close allies.

Kenney said the Alberta Investment Management Corporation has liquidated $165 million it had in Russian assets.

Kenney has been consistent on the matter from day one, said Justin Brattinga, the premier’s press secretary.

“Putin’s war on Ukraine is unacceptable and Canada must do everything possible to hold the Russian dictator and his supporters to account,” Brattinga said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2022.

Mickey Djuric, The Canadian Press

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