Canada welcomes UN body's decision holding Russia responsible for MH17 tragedy
OTTAWA – The Canadian government is welcoming a recent decision by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization to hold Russia responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
The plane was shot down on July 17, 2014, over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board, including one Canadian.
Global Affairs Canada says the UN body has found Russia breached an obligation not to use weapons against a civil aircraft in flight under the Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention.
A Dutch-led investigation concluded in 2016 that the Amsterdam-to-Kuala Lumpur airliner was shot down from territory held by separatist rebels using a missile system delivered from Russia.
Moscow has denied any involvement in the tragedy and is rejecting the council's findings.
Global Affairs says the council will in the coming weeks consider what form of reparation is in order.
'We commend the council for fulfilling its responsibility to uphold the rule of law in civil aviation and for reaffirming that violations of it will not go unanswered,' the department said in a statement.
'Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of all those who lost their lives aboard Flight MH17. Canada continues to support efforts to ensure that justice is served and to reinforce international mechanisms that protect civilian lives.'
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
— With files from The Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Sun
42 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
Tories support Liberal defence spending hike, but still want a budget
"All of this will require a budget," Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters Conversative Leader Pierre Poilievre addresses reporters on Donald Trump's tariffs in the foyer of West Block in Ottawa, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4 2025. Photo by Bryan Passifiume / TORONTO SUN OTTAWA — While the Tories support the PM's plans to greatly bolster Canada's defence spending, they still want figures in black and white. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Speaking to reporters ahead of Question Period on Monday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre renewed his calls for the Mark Carney Liberals to release a budget sooner rather than later. 'All of this will require a budget,' Poilievre said. 'A budget that not only puts this money forward, clearly identifies where it comes from, but cuts waste and bureaucracy, consultants, foreign aid, corporate welfare and other areas so that the necessary increase in the military does not come as an inflationary burden on the backs of Canadian taxpayers.' Intense backlash to the government's decision to forego a budget this year prompted the PM to walk back his previous assertions, promising one in the fall. The Conservatives have said they prefer to see one tabled before the House of Commons rises for the summer next week — tabling a motion in the House of Commons on Monday calling for exactly that. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This prime minister says that he wants to be held to account based on what Canadians are paying for their groceries,' Tory MP Michael Barrett said during Monday's Question Period. 'But instead of putting forward a budget, or bringing down grocery prices, he's introduced a half-trillion dollars in what we can only assume is more inflationary spending.' Quietly released last month during the visit of King Charles, the federal government's main estimates outlined a spending plan worth $487 billion. Read More Poilievre said he stands ready to work with other parties to meet the goal of putting Canada first and defend our sovereignty. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Conservatives support rebuilding our military,' Poilievre said during Monday's news conference. 'After another lost decade of Liberals cuts and mismanagement and back-office bureaucracy, of boondoggles and wasted money on bungled projects, our military has never been weaker.' Poilievre reaffirmed his party's calls for a strong Canadian military with a tangible presence in the north — including at least one permanent base, new fighter jets and surveillance aircraft, and new ships including icebreakers. Filling CAF's massive recruitment gaps is also a priority, he said. bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume RECOMMENDED VIDEO Olympics Columnists Celebrity Olympics Canada
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
EDITORIAL: Meeting NATO's 2% target the right move
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney walks as he greets Canadian troops of the 4th Canadian Division as he attends a tour of the Fort York Armoury in Toronto on June 9, 2025 in Toronto. Carney has pledged to meet NATO's 2% spending pledge this year. Photo by Cole Burston / GETTY IMAGES Provided it is done competently, we agree with Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement Monday that Canada, at long last, will meet its NATO commitment to increase military spending to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) in this fiscal year. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account That's five years ahead of Carney's previous promise to meet the 2% target by 2030. We're so far behind — Canada currently spends 1.4% of GDP on defence annually — that NATO is already considering a new target for member nations to spend 5% of GDP on defence. Canada's failure to meet the 2% target, set by NATO in 2006, has been a long-standing national embarrassment. It has eaten away at our credibility and our effectiveness on issues of global security and international conflicts. It has justifiably upset many of our NATO allies for not pulling our own weight and, most recently, angered U.S. President Donald Trump who, on this issue, has a valid point. At the end of the Second World War, Canada had the world's fourth-largest navy after the U.S., U.K and former Soviet Union. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. At the end of the Korean War, Canada was spending 7% of GDP on defence. Today, we have members of our military relying on food donations to make ends meet while being sent into armed conflicts — where they continue to serve honourably — with aging and obsolete equipment. This is a national disgrace. Canada's submarines, ships, aircraft, military vehicles and artillery are all in desperate need of upgrading, as is our military presence in the Arctic, given the growing interest in its mineral resources by hostile countries such as Russia and China. No country can claim to be a sovereign nation unless it has the ability to monitor and, where necessary, counter incursions into its territory. Our concern is with Carney's pledge to 'ensure that every dollar is invested wisely, including by prioritizing made-in-Canada manufacturing and supply chains.' Read More That's not because of the intent — we agree with it — but because there are so many examples of military spending that have turned into fiascoes and boondoggles by previous governments. We're also concerned that Carney is making this major announcement on defence spending in advance of this year's federal budget and how the increased spending on defence will impact the government's overall finances. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Olympics Columnists Celebrity Olympics Canada
Calgary Herald
an hour ago
- Calgary Herald
Sikh groups call on MPs to denounce Carney's G7 invitation to Modi
OTTAWA — A group of Canadian Sikh organizations is calling on members of Parliament to denounce Prime Minister Mark Carney's invitation to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to next week's G7 leaders' meeting. Article content The open letter comes after Carney defended the invitation to Modi last Friday, saying it was important to have India at the table, given that it represents the world's fifth-largest economy, is essential to supply chains, and now boasts the world's largest population. Article content Article content Article content 'Carney's decision is not merely a diplomatic miscalculation,' reads the letter, released Monday. Article content Article content 'It is a direct insult to the Sikh community and a grave threat to the integrity of Canada's institutions.' Article content Signatories included the World Sikh Organization, the British Columbia Gurdwaras Council and Sikh Federation, as well as the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee and the Quebec Sikh Council. Article content The statements follows comments on Friday by Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal, who represents the Surrey, B.C., riding where Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed outside of a temple in June 2023, that he was concerned by the invitation extended to Modi and planned to raise it with Carney this week. Dhaliwal said he had received dozens of calls and more than 100 emails from constituents expressing concern about Modi's attendance at the summit. Article content Article content The groups cite the statement made by former prime minister Justin Trudeau in September 2023 that Canada had 'credible allegations' that India's government was involved in the death of Nijjar. Article content That accusation sent shockwaves through Canada and resulted in a souring of relations with India, which denied the allegations. Article content India had regarded Nijjar as a terrorist. He was a prominent activist in the Khalistan movement, which pushes for a separate Sikh state to be created in India's Punjab province. Article content Four Indian nationals have been charged in his death. Article content Last fall, further tension was inserted into the Canada-India relationship when the RCMP went public with a statement that it believed India's government to be involved in violence unfolding in Canada, from murder to criminal gangs.
