Bill Detail
An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Special Economic Measures Act and the Broadcasting Act
This enactment amends the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to impose certain requirements on the Minister of Foreign Affairs in relation to international human rights.
It also amends the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) to provide that
transnational repression be sanctioned;
visas or other documents must not be issued to immediate family members of a foreign national who is the subject of an order or regulation made under section 4 of the Act;
a copy of each order or regulation made under paragraph 4(1)(b) of the Act must be tabled in each House of Parliament;
the Minister must respond to a report submitted by a parliamentary committee that recommends that sanctions be imposed under the Act against a foreign national; and
the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada must provide the Minister with information that is relevant to the making, administering or enforcing of the order or regulation against a foreign national.
It also amends the Special Economic Measures Act to change that Act’s long title to “An Act to provide for the imposition of economic measures against a person, entity or foreign state for grave breaches of international peace and security, gross and systematic human rights violations or acts of significant corruption” and its short title to the “Sergei Magnitsky Global Sanctions Act”. It further amends that Act to provide that
transnational repression be sanctioned;
visas or other documents must not be issued to immediate family members of a foreign national who is the subject of an order or regulation made under section 4 of the Act;
the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada must provide the Minister with information that is relevant to the making, administering or enforcing of the order or regulation against a foreign state or person;
every order or regulation made under paragraph 4(1)(b) of the Act must be tabled in each House of Parliament; and
the punishment under paragraph 8(a) of the Act be increased.
Finally, it amends the Broadcasting Act to prohibit the issue or renewal of a licence in relation to a broadcasting undertaking, or to revoke the licence of a broadcasting undertaking, that is vulnerable to being significantly influenced by a foreign national or entity that has committed acts or omissions that the Senate or the House of Commons has recognized as genocide or that is the subject of sanctions under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) or under the Special Economic Measures Act.
Bill C-219, also known as the International Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Act, strengthens Canada's ability to impose sanctions. It updates existing laws like the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and the Special Economic Measures Act.
Key changes include explicitly sanctioning "transnational repression," which involves foreign states intimidating or harming individuals outside their borders. The bill also requires regular reporting by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Canada's efforts to advance human rights globally and increases penalties for violations. This affects individuals and entities involved in corruption, human rights abuses, or undermining international peace and security.