Sending a senior foreign affairs staffer to a party at Russia’s foreign embassy was offensive and undermines Canada’s mission to hold Russia accountable for its horrific actions in Ukraine.

At first, Joly attempted to paint the situation as entirely the fault of public servants in her department, and suggested the decision wasn’t run by her office beforehand. She wouldn’t say whether she personally knew about plans to attend the Russia Day celebration.

Melanie Joly says a Canadian representative never should have attended a party at the Russian Embassy and that the buck stops with her as the Minister. She didn’t answer if she knew in advance that the representative planned to attend the party or who they were.

Melanie Joly says a Canadian representative never should have attended a party at the Russian Embassy and that the buck stops with her as the Minister. She didn't answer if she knew in advance that the representative planned to attend the party or who they were. #Liberals pic.twitter.com/AEYXcGOPPQ

— Canadian Riley (@TiaRileyCanada) June 17, 2022

The reality is, this should never have happened. And this will not happen again. I’m the Minister and the buck stops here.