Freeland explores opportunities for Canadian business to help rebuild Ukraine
Seven weeks ago, Prime Minister Mark Carney assigned Cabinet Minister Free Chrysti Freeland to be Canada’s new special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Canadians haven’t heard much about the job since, and nothing about how Ukraine can be rebuilt while Russia continues to bomb infrastructure.
But experts say Canada has a huge opportunity now to help preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and international law — and turn the tide on many fronts.
Here’s what we know.
It is not clear. The former journalist has never been interviewed by Canadian news outlets since his time in office, despite numerous requests from Canadian media.
In September, Cabinet Order created a new role for Freeland, who is serving as parliamentary secretary to Carney for the 12th time.
Alexandre Lévêque, the deputy assistant minister at the World Finance Committee, told the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.
“I’m thinking about freeland, to increase the role, as he starts his career in it,” he said.
“I think that in fact, his role will be to find opportunities – so to bring … the Canadian private sector, to find investors, especially in the mining industry (and) mining development.”
In a November 5 response to a Parliamentary request for information from Conservative MP Garnett genuis, the Privy Council office said the role of Envoy comes with income from Salary received. It said “certain expenses” incurred by Freeland, “such as travel, may be paid by the Privy Council Office.”
Genuis asked if the job comes with any set of terms. The PCO did not provide any phone calls but said Freeland will advise the government on economic recovery and Canada’s efforts to bring thousands of kidnapped Ukrainian children to Russia during the war.
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The PCO also said that Freeland does not receive “administrative support,” despite Lévêêe proving otherwise.
In a recent piece he wrote for the Financial Times, Freeland argued Ukraine could succeed in Russia if it was adequately funded by the West. He called Ukraine the “Nation of Manufacturing,” citing its remarkable success in the field of drone manufacturing.
In a statement, Freeland’s Office said it visited Kyani in September and that “the Government of Ukraine has declared MS.
How can you rebuild a country at war?
Ukrainian Ambassador to Canada Andrai Plakhotniuk says that even with the ongoing war, his country is still able to control its exports while building an arms industry that is forced to produce quickly and adapt to new technologies on the fly.
Plakhotniuk told the Senate Committee that Canada has already chosen to trade with Ukraine through its recently revised agreement and the goodwill that comes with being a major financial donor.
“Ukraine is ready for the joint production of defense materiel only with our partners, including Canada,” the witness testified.
While Plakhotniuk could not be reached, other countries are showing how partnership can work.
France’s defense ministry is in talks with carmaker Renault to build drones in part or in whole in Ukraine – a partnership that will bring government funding to both Ukrainian and French businesses.
“Of course, we understand the risks of doing business in Ukraine. My message to all our friends in Canada here is that we should use every business in Ukraine,” said Plakhotniuk, adding that this effort can start with projects in neighboring countries.
“My big message is not to wait (until) when we have reconstruction efforts after recovery. We need your presence now. We need your good advice, and we need to build strength and many other things.”
What are Canadian companies like?
Lévêque testified that a small group of Canadian government officials stationed in Kyiv, and some trade officials in Poland, are working to find economic opportunities for Canadian firms in Ukraine. He acknowledged that they saw limited progress.
“Given the risks that exist, in their physical security and in their investments, most of these business arrangements are outside the country,” said French.
“The fact is that the appetite of Canadian companies to do business in Ukraine remains limited at this time.”
However, he said, the government sends representatives to “renewable diversity” fairs that bring businesses and governments together to discuss projects for Ukraine’s continued recovery.
“We are also sending our ministers and trade commissioners, as well as Crown companies such as Canada Canada and the Canada Commerce Corporation, which will make preparations to invest in the military or intergovernmental sector,” affirms in French.
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