Even the CBC article posted above states that the burden is on the persecuted individual "to prove to immigration officials here [in Canada] that it isn't a crime in Canada to criticize the Russian army."
This is not the only example.
The American constitution says: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Canadian one says: peace, order, and good government. Different strokes for different folks - you do you.
Does it? We may be reading different constitutions.
Anyways, I don’t deny there are pluses and minuses. The situation of the person in this article (if the facts are as reported) is unfortunate, and I’d hope that the ministry would intervene if push really came to shove.
Imagine living in a country where the concept of liberty is so strong that calling for insurrection over the democratic process is fine.