Bombardier gets federal exemption from sanctions on Russian titanium

Bombardier is now the second large Canadian corporation known to have been granted an exemption from federal government sanctions on Russian titanium.

The Montreal-based aircraft manufacturer, along with its European partner Airbus, can continue to use parts containing titanium produced by Russia's VSMPO-AVISMA, based in Verkhnyaya Salda.

During a conference call Thursday with reporters following the release of Bombardier's quarterly results, CEO Eric Martel disclosed the waiver.

Martel said that while Bombardier does not purchase Russian titanium directly, some of its suppliers use it, so the company needed a sanctions waiver from the federal government.

«We did work with the government and we did work also with all our supplier base to make sure we were doing the right thing,» he said. «But at the same time, we needed to ensure, you know, that we keep running our factories.»

News of Ottawa's decision to grant Airbus a waiver drew outrage from Ukraine's ambassador to Canada, who was interviewed by CBC's Wednesday night.

Yuliya Kovaliv said allowing the company a pass to continue to use Russian titanium — when there are other suppliers elsewhere in the world — serves to feed the Kremlin's war machine.

She said she sought an explanation from Global Affairs Canada but received none.

Titanium is used in the manufacture of aircraft engines because of its light weight and strength. Canada's sanctions on Russian titanium were introduced in February. Canada was the first western nation to target Moscow's exports of the critical mineral.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said maintaining Canadian jobs was the main reason for granting the waiver.

«We will always make sure to put maximum pressure on the Russian regime and meanwhile