On Jan. 9, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Defence Minister Bill Blair announced $440 million in military assistance to Ukraine. Some social media users claimed the House of Commons did not approve the funding through a vote because Parliament was prorogued when the funding was announced. This claim is false. The $440 million comes from the federal budget last April and an additional funding commitment from last July, which was then approved via an appropriation bill in December 2024. The House of Commons voted to approve both the federal budget and the appropriation bill, meaning the funds were voted on and approved before the Jan. 9 funding announcement and the prorogation of Parliament.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Defence Minister Bill Blair announced $440 million in military assistance to Ukraine on Jan. 9, .
A user on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, and claiming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent the money, in U.S. dollars, to Ukraine "without a vote."
"Canada IS NOT a monarchy. Trudeau CAN NOT keep spending money when parliament is shut down," the user wrote, referring to until March 24.
Together the posts received more than 10,000 likes.
"How was this even passed? Parliament is prorogued. Nobody could vote on this," a TikTok user about the funding announcement posted Jan. 9, with more than 13,000 plays.
Rating: False
According to the Jan. 9 press release announcing the $440 million to Ukraine, the donation comes from both the 2024 federal budget and an additional $500 million funding commitment Trudeau made at the NATO summit in Washington, D.C. last July.
Details of the 2024 federal budget are available on the Government of Canada .
According to , "Protecting ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøs and defending democracy," the government wants to earmark $1.6 billion for Ukraine, or  over the next five years starting in 2024-2025.
That money goes to the Department of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Defence for "the provision of lethal and non-lethal military aid," according to the budget document.
The House of Commons on May 1, 2024 with 172 votes in favour and 150 against.
Trudeau announced an extra $500 million in military aid to Ukraine on July 10, in a one-on-one conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the NATO summit in Washington, D.C.
A backgrounder from the Prime Minister's Office , with the government pledging $443.8 million to the Department of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Defence for "military equipment, assistance, and training for Ukraine’s Armed Forces."
The funds are in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø dollars, not U.S. dollars as the X user claimed.
In an emailed statement, a Department of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Defence spokesperson confirmed the donations were part of the 2024 budget and the $500 million in assistance Trudeau announced at NATO.
Parliament approved Ukraine funding
A 2024-25 government shows a total of $443.8 million budgeted for the Department of Defence and its funding of military aid in Ukraine, which matches the amount pledged in July at the NATO conference.
This funding, while not included in the 2024 budget, was included in the supplementary appropriation bill C-79.
The bill also included the $319.8 million set aside for military aid to Ukraine outlined in the 2024 budget.
The bill on Dec. 10, with 209 in favour and 120 against, meaning that more than $760 million in military aid to Ukraine has been approved by Parliament for 2024-25.
Both the federal budget and bill C-79 were voted on and passed by the House of Commons before the prorogation of Parliament and before Blair's announcement of the $440 million in funding to Ukraine.
The Government of Canada website and whether the country received them.
Other funding commitments , which were also tied to the $500 million pledged during the NATO conference, are listed as "in progress," while the $440 million donation from January has yet to appear.
Trudeau government retains power amid prorogation
The X poster's claim that Canada is not a monarchy and that Trudeau and his government cannot spend money while Parliament is prorogued is misleading.
Canada , meaning that while King Charles is head of state, the prime minister is the head of government and the King holds no political rule over Canada.
Parliamentary business stops during prorogation, meaning the House of Commons will not hold session until March.
Committees lose their power and bills that weren't passed before prorogation are terminated.
However, , "the Speaker, the Prime Minister, ministers and parliamentary secretaries remain in office, and all members of the House retain their full rights and privileges."
The can continue business because prorogation only affects Parliament.
However, it cannot pass new laws or spending bills.
Sources
Defence Minister Bill Blair commits $440 million in military assistance to Ukraine — Government of Canada from Jan. 9, 2025 ()
Claim from X on () and () and on Jan. 9, 2025 ()
, Canada Gazette, from Jan. 6, 2025 ()
Canada pledges Ukraine aid, plan to buy submarines as NATO spending questions dog PM — ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, July 10, 2024 ()
Budget 2024, Government of Canada , accessed Jan. 21, 2025 ()
Chapter 7: Protecting ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøs and Defending Democracy, Government of Canada budget , accessed Jan. 21, 2025 ()
Vote No. 747, House of Commons , accessed Jan. 21, 2025 ()
, Prime Minister of Canada, July 11, 2024 ()
Canada announces new military assistance for Ukraine, Government of Canada , Oct. 18, 2024 ()
Supplementary Estimates (B), 2024-25, Government of Canada , accessed Jan. 21, 2025 ()
Vote No. 923, House of Commons , accessed Jan. 21, 2025 ()
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø donations and military support to Ukraine, Government of Canada , accessed Jan. 23, 2025 ()
Canada's Constitutional Monarchy, Parliament of Canada , accessed Jan. 21, 2025 ()
Parliamentary Cycle, House of Commons , accessed Jan. 21, 2025 ()
The Branches of Government, Parliament of Canada , accessed Jan. 21, 2025 ()
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