The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced the appointment of Sarah Taylor as Ambassador of Canada to the Russian Federation. She replaces Alison LeClaire.

“Diplomats are our eyes and ears on the ground and at a time when Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine continues to have major impacts around the globe, Canada must maintain and strengthen its diplomatic network in the region. I offer my most sincere thanks to Alison LeClaire, who has done a tremendous job in representing Canada in the region, and I congratulate Sarah Taylor, who will continue this important work over the coming years.”

- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

• Diplomatic relations between Canada and the Russian Federation—previously the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)—were formally established on June 12, 1942.

• Canada is represented in the Russian Federation by an embassy in Moscow. The Russian Federation is represented in Canada by an embassy in Ottawa, consulates general in Toronto, Ontario, and Montréal, Quebec.

• While trade relations are extremely limited given the current context, Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service maintains some minimal operations in Russia within the scope of trade restrictions imposed by sanctions under Canada’s Special Economic Measures Act.

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• Biographical notes

Associated links

• Canada-Russia relations
• Canada’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Isabella Orozco-Madison
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Isabella.Orozco-Madison@international.gc.ca

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