As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

The Government of Canada should continue its sanctions against Russian and post-annexation Crimean officials, those responsible for the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, as well as those involved in the abduction and illegal show trials of Ukrainian citizens in Russia and Crimean Tatars and others within Crimea. The Government of Canada should also engage with the Russian government on the need to respect international law and Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Recommendation 2

The Government of Canada should continue to support multilateral efforts, including through the OSCE, NATO, the UN and other international organizations, to bring about a resolution to Russia’s military invasion and illegal annexation of Crimean territory and logistical and military support for the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine. In support of this objective, the Government of Canada should continue its commitment to Operation UNIFIER.

Recommendation 3

The Government of Canada should continue to ensure that Canadian international assistance to Ukraine benefits the most vulnerable populations in the country, particularly the indigenous Crimean Tatars, and those who have been internally displaced by the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Recommendation 4

The Government of Canada should work with its allies in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and elsewhere to improve collective defence mechanisms against cyberattacks, as well as proactively monitor disinformation campaigns and develop counter measures to minimize damage inflicted by information warfare. This should include continued financial and personnel support for the NATO Centres of Excellence for Co-operative Cyber Defence (Estonia) and for Strategic Communications (Latvia).

Recommendation 5

The Government of Canada should continue to show leadership on security issues by ongoing deployments through Operation REASSURANCE, including air policing in Eastern Europe and the Enhanced Forward Presence battlegroups in the Baltics and Poland.

Recommendation 6

The Government of Canada should work with the Canadian business community to engage with government officials, civil society and business leaders in all countries that were adversely affected by Soviet occupation and control on best practices to combat corruption in both the public and private sectors.

Recommendation 7

The Government of Canada should build on existing multilateral and bilateral efforts that support the enhancement of democratic values, good governance, participatory democracy, the rule of law, and social inclusion of marginalized groups such as women, the LGBTI community, and indigenous populations, through ongoing discussions with government officials, parliamentarians and members of civil society in all countries that were adversely affected by Soviet occupation and control.

Recommendation 8

The Government of Canada should work with the Canadian business community to support and promote commercial opportunities in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, particularly in areas that build on Canadian expertise in resource management and other sectors.

Recommendation 9

The Government of Canada should consider measures to improve the efficiency of the visa application process without compromising considerations related to Canadian security and national priorities.

Recommendation 10

The Government of Canada should engage with Eastern European and Central Asian governments on youth-oriented partnership frameworks, including youth mobility agreements and educational exchanges, that facilitate employment experience for young people.