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Bill C-219

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First Session, Forty-fifth Parliament,

3-4 Charles III, 2025

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-219
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
FIRST READING, September 16, 2025

Mr. Bezan
451061


SUMMARY

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

(a) transnational repression be sanctioned;

(b) 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;

(c) a copy of each order or regulation made under paragraph 4(1)‍(b) of the Act must be tabled in each House of Parliament;

(d) 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

(e) 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

(a) transnational repression be sanctioned;

(b) 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;

(c) 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;

(d) every order or regulation made under paragraph 4(1)‍(b) of the Act must be tabled in each House of Parliament; and

(e) 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.‍‍

Available on the House of Commons website at the following address:
www.ourcommons.ca


1st Session, 45th Parliament,

3-4 Charles III, 2025

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-219

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

Preamble

Whereas Parliament supports strengthening Canada’s sanctions regime to better align with ally countries through the imposition of economic measures against a person, entity, foreign national or foreign state for grave breaches of international peace and security, gross and systemic human rights violations or acts of significant corruption;

Whereas Parliament considers that it is desirable that the Government of Canada continue working with ally countries towards establishing the International Anti-Corruption Court;

And whereas this Act will enable Canada to implement and award compensation to victims of grave breaches of international peace and security and gross and systemic human rights violations and to those who suffered under corrupt foreign officials and make sanctioned foreign states, foreign nationals, entities and persons accountable;

Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Short Title

Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Sergei Magnitsky International Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Act.

2013, c. 33, s. 174

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act

2 Section 10 of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (3):

Human rights

Start of inserted block
(4) In exercising the powers and performing the duties and functions set out in this Act in respect of the conduct of the external affairs of Canada, the Minister must publish, at least once every calendar year, a report that includes

  • (a) an outline of the measures that the Government of Canada has taken to advance human rights internationally as part of Canada’s foreign policy;

  • (b) a list that sets out the following information relating to prisoners of conscience for whose release the Government of Canada is actively working:

    • (i) the number of prisoners of conscience detained by each foreign state, within the meaning of section 2 of the Sergei Magnitsky Global Sanctions Act or section 2 of the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), which detain such prisoners,

    • (ii) the names of the prisoners of conscience,

    • (iii) the circumstances of the detentions,

    • (iv) the efforts that the Government of Canada has made to visit those prisoners and to attend their trials or hearings, including the number of requests made for such visits and the responses of the foreign state, and

    • (v) other actions taken by the Government of Canada to support prisoners of conscience, including those detained or experiencing treatment in contravention to human rights standards; and

  • (c) a description of the Government of Canada’s communications with the families of prisoners of conscience and its consultations with civil society on matters of human rights.

    End of inserted block

Information not to be included

Start of inserted block
(5) In preparing the list referred to in paragraph (4)‍(b), the Minister must make all reasonable efforts to consult with family members or representatives of the prisoners of conscience and may decide not to include certain information in the list if a person consulted by the Minister requests that the information not be included, or the Minister is satisfied that not including it would be in the best interests of the advancement of human rights or the personal safety of the prisoner.
End of inserted block

Definition of prisoner of conscience

Start of inserted block
(6) In this section, prisoner of conscience means an individual who, in contravention of international human rights standards, has been detained or otherwise physically restricted solely because of their identity or their conscientiously held beliefs, including religious or political beliefs.
End of inserted block

2017, c. 21

Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law)

3 Section 2 of the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:

transnational repression means tactics used by a foreign state to intimidate, harass, surveil or threaten individuals or groups located outside the state borders or physically harm such individuals or members of such groups, including elected officials, political dissidents, human rights defenders, exiled journalists, diaspora communities, civil society activists and refugees, for the purpose of silencing dissent and stifling activism.‍ (répression transnationale)

4 Subsection 4(2) of the Act is amended by striking out “or” at the end of paragraph (c), by adding “or” at the end of paragraph (d) and by adding the following after paragraph (d):

  • Start of inserted block

    (e) a foreign national has committed transnational repression as an agent of or on behalf of a foreign state.

    End of inserted block

5 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 4:

Immediate family members

Start of inserted block
4.‍01 (1) A visa or other document must not be issued under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to an immediate family member of a foreign national who is the subject of an order or regulation made under section 4.
End of inserted block

Exemption

Start of inserted block
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that the immediate family member did not receive any material or financial benefit from the foreign national.
End of inserted block

6 Section 4.‍4 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Forfeiture

Start of inserted block
4.‍4 (1) Within 12 months of the seizure or restraint of property under an order made under paragraph 4(1)‍(b), the Minister must apply for forfeiture of the property under section 4.‍2.
End of inserted block

Disposal

Start of inserted block
(2) The minister must dispose of the property forfeited within 30 days of the forfeiture.
End of inserted block

7 (1) Section 5 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Order or regulation
5 ( Insertion start 1 Insertion end ) A copy of each order or regulation made under paragraph 4(1)‍(a) Insertion start or (b) Insertion end must be tabled in each House of Parliament within 15 days after it is made. It may be sent to the Clerk of the House if the House is not sitting.
Statement
Start of inserted block
(2) Every order or regulation must be accompanied by a statement that indicates the evidence or criteria used to make the order or regulation, the enforcement measures taken against the foreign national — including whether these measures were taken in coordination with ally countries — and the number of properties seized or restrained by order.
End of inserted block

(2) The Act is amended by adding the following after section 5:

Response to recommendation of committee
Start of inserted block
5.‍1 (1) If a motion adopted by a committee of the Senate, of the House of Commons or of both Houses of Parliament recommends that an order or regulation be considered or made under section 4 in relation to a foreign national, the Minister must prepare a response advising the committee whether or not the order or regulation has been made and setting out the reasons for the decision.
End of inserted block
Tabling of response
Start of inserted block
(2) The response must be tabled in the Senate or the House of Commons or in both Houses of Parliament, as the case may be, within the timeline specified in the rules of the Senate or the Standing Orders of the House of Commons for responses to committee reports and must be posted in a prominent location on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development on the day after it is tabled.
End of inserted block
Prorogation or dissolution
Start of inserted block
(3) If Parliament is prorogued before the response is tabled, the Minister must post the response in a prominent location on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development within the time limit referred to in subsection (2) regarding the tabling of the response. If Parliament is prorogued or dissolved before the response is tabled, the response must be tabled as soon as feasible after the commencement of the next session of Parliament.
End of inserted block

8 Section 7.‍2 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

Order or regulation — information given to Minister

Start of inserted block
(3) If the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has reasonable grounds to believe, including based on information provided by the public, that a foreign national should be the subject of an order or regulation made under section 4, the Commissioner must provide the Minister with any information that is relevant to the making, administration or enforcement of the order or regulation.
End of inserted block

Making, administration and enforcement of order or regulation

Start of inserted block
(4) Within 30 days after receiving the information under subsection (3), the Minister must recommend to the Governor in Council whether or not the order or regulation is to be made, administered and enforced.
End of inserted block

9 Section 7.‍21 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 7.‍21(1) and is amended by adding the following:

Order or regulation — information given to Minister

Start of inserted block
(2) If the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada has reasonable grounds to believe, including based on information provided by the public, that a foreign national should be the subject of an order or regulation made under section 4, it must provide the Minister with any information that is relevant to the making, administration or enforcement of the order or regulation.
End of inserted block

Making, administration and enforcement of order or regulation

Start of inserted block
(3) Within 30 days after receiving the information under subsection (2), the Minister must recommend to the Governor in Council whether or not the order or regulation is to be made, administered and enforced.
End of inserted block

1992, c. 17

Special Economic Measures Act

Amendments to the Act

10 The long title of the Special Economic Measures Act is replaced by the following:

Start of inserted block
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
End of inserted block

11 Section 1 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Short title
1 This Act may be cited as the Insertion start Sergei Magnitsky Global Sanctions Insertion end Act.

12 Section 2 of the Act is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:

Start of inserted block

transnational repression means tactics used by a foreign state to intimidate, harass, surveil or threaten individuals or groups located outside the state borders or to physically harm such individuals or members of such groups, including elected officials, political dissidents, human rights defenders, exiled journalists, diaspora communities, civil society activists and refugees, for the purpose of silencing dissent and stifling activism.‍ (répression transnationale)

End of inserted block
13 (1) Paragraph 4(1.‍1)‍(a) of the Act is replaced by the following:

  • (a) an international organization of states or association of states, of which Canada is a member, Insertion start including the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Insertion end , has made a decision or a recommendation or adopted a resolution calling on its members to take economic measures against a foreign state;

(2) Paragraph 4(1.‍1)‍(c) of the Act is replaced by the following:

  • (c)  Insertion start transnational repression Insertion end or gross and systematic human rights violations have been committed in a foreign state; or

14 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 4:

Immediate family members
Start of inserted block
4.‍1 (1) A visa or other document must not be issued under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to immediate family members of a person who is the subject of an order or regulation made under section 4.
End of inserted block
Exemption
Start of inserted block
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that the immediate family member did not receive any material or financial benefit from the person.
End of inserted block

15 Section 5.‍6 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Forfeiture
Start of inserted block
5.‍6 (1) Within 12 months of the seizure or restraint of property under an order made under paragraph 4(1)‍(b), the Minister must apply for forfeiture of the property under section 5.‍4.
End of inserted block
Disposal
Start of inserted block
(2) The minister must dispose of the property forfeited within 30 days of the forfeiture.
End of inserted block

16 Section 6.‍2 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

Order or regulation — information given to Minister
Start of inserted block
(3) If the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has reasonable grounds to believe, including based on information provided by the public, that a foreign state or person should be the subject of an order or regulation made under section 4, the Commissioner must provide the Minister with any information that is relevant to the making, administration or enforcement of the order or regulation.
End of inserted block
Making, administration and enforcement of order or regulation
Start of inserted block
(4) Within 30 days after receiving the information under subsection (3), the Minister must recommend to the Governor in Council whether or not the order or regulation is to be made, administered and enforced.
End of inserted block

17 Section 6.‍21 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 6.‍21(1) and is amended by adding the following:

Order or regulation — information given to Minister
Start of inserted block
(2) If the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada has reasonable grounds to believe, including based on information provided by the public, that a foreign state or person should be the subject of an order or regulation made under section 4, it must provide the Minister with any information that is relevant to the making, administration or enforcement of the order or regulation.
End of inserted block
Making, administration and enforcement of order or regulation
Start of inserted block
(3) Within 30 days after receiving the information under subsection (2), the Minister must recommend to the Governor in Council whether or not the order or regulation is to be made, administered and enforced.
End of inserted block

18 Subsection 7(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Tabling in Parliament
7 (1) Every order and regulation made under paragraph 4(1)‍(a) Insertion start or (b) Insertion end shall be laid before each House of Parliament by a member of the Insertion start King’s Insertion end Privy Council for Canada within five sitting days of that House after it is made.
Statement
Start of inserted block
(1.‍1) Every order or regulation referred to in subsection (1) must be accompanied by a statement that indicates the evidence or criteria used to make the order or regulation, the enforcement measures taken against the foreign states or persons — including whether these measures were taken in coordination with ally countries — and the number of properties seized or restrained by order.
End of inserted block

19 Paragraph 8(a) of the Act is replaced by the following:

  • (a) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and is liable to a fine not exceeding Insertion start one hundred Insertion end thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding Insertion start three years Insertion end , or to both; or

20 The portion of subsection 10(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

Evidence
10 (1) The original or a copy of a bill of lading, customs document, commercial invoice or other document is admissible in evidence in a prosecution under this Act in relation to any dealing with respect to goods, Insertion start or services rendered in relation to these goods Insertion end , where it appears from the document that

Terminology

Replacement of “Special Economic Measures Act” in other Acts

21 (1) Every reference to the “Special Economic Measures Act” is replaced by a reference to the “Sergei Magnitsky Global Sanctions Act” in the following provisions:

  • (a) paragraph 13(3)‍(d) of the Seized Property Management Act;

  • (b) in the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act:

    • (i) the definition sanctions evasion offence in subsection 2(1),

    • (ii) paragraph 7.‍1(1)‍(c),

    • (iii) paragraph 11.‍‍11(1)‍(b.‍‍1),

    • (iv) paragraph 39.‍27(3)‍(h),

    • (v) section 39.‍28, and

    • (vi) paragraph 55(3)‍(h);

  • (c) paragraphs 35.‍1(1)‍(a) and (b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;

  • (d) paragraph 6(2)‍(d) of the International Interests in Mobile Equipment (aircraft equipment) Act;

  • (e) subsection 20(1) of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act;

  • (f) in the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law):

    • (i) the long title,

    • (ii) the preamble, and

    • (iii) subsection 16(1); and

  • (g) paragraphs 27(3.‍1)‍(a) and (b) of the Online News Act.

Other references — Acts

(2) Unless the context requires otherwise, every reference to the “Special Economic Measures Act” in any provision of an Act of Parliament, other than a provision referred to in subsection (1), is to be read as a reference to the “Sergei Magnitsky Global Sanctions Act”.

Replacement in regulations

22 (1) Every reference to the “Special Economic Measures Act” is replaced by a reference to the “Sergei Magnitsky Global Sanctions Act” in the following provisions:

  • (a) paragraph (c) of the definition listed person or entity in subsection 1(2) of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Suspicious Transaction Reporting Regulations;

  • (b) in the Special Economic Measures (Myanmar) Regulations:

    • (i) paragraph 3.‍1(f), and

    • (ii) subsection 15(2);

  • (c) subsection 10(2) of the Special Economic Measures (Zimbabwe) Regulations;

  • (d) subsection 10(2) of the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations;

  • (e) in the Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolutions and Imposing Special Economic Measures on Libya:

    • (i) subsection 2(2), and

    • (ii) subsection 24(2);

  • (f) subsection 6(2) of the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations;

  • (g) paragraph 4(1)‍(c) of the General Export Permit No. 45 — Cryptography for the Development or Production of a Product;

  • (h) paragraph 3(1)‍(c) of the General Export Permit No. 46 — Cryptography for Use by Certain Consignees;

  • (i) subsection 7(2) of the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations;

  • (j) subsection 7(2) of the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations;

  • (k) subsection 7(2) of the Special Economic Measures (South Sudan) Regulations;

  • (l) paragraph 3(1)‍(c) of the General Export Permit No. 41 — Dual-use Goods and Technology to Certain Destinations;

  • (m) subsection 7(2) of the Special Economic Measures (Venezuela) Regulations;

  • (n) subsection 7(2) of the Special Economic Measures (Nicaragua) Regulations;

  • (o) subsection 7(2) of the Special Economic Measures (Belarus) Regulations;

  • (p) subsection 7(2) of the Special Economic Measures (People’s Republic of China) Regulations;

  • (q) subsection 7(2) of the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations;

  • (r) subsection 7(2) of the Special Economic Measures (Sri Lanka) Regulations;

  • (s) subsection 7(2) of the Special Economic Measures (Moldova) Regulations;

  • (t) in the Special Economic Measures (Guatemala) Regulations:

    • (i) paragraph 4(f), and

    • (ii) subsection 7(2);

  • (u) in the Special Economic Measures (Hamas Terrorist Attacks) Regulations:

    • (i) paragraph 4(f), and

    • (ii) subsection 7(2);

  • (v) in the Special Economic Measures (Sudan) Regulations:

    • (i) paragraph 4(f), and

    • (ii) subsection 7(2); and

  • (w) in the Special Economic Measures (Extremist Settler Violence) Regulations:

    • (i) paragraph 4(f), and

    • (ii) subsection 7(2).

Other references — regulations

(2) Unless the context requires otherwise, every reference to the “Special Economic Measures Act” in any provision of a regulation, as defined in section 2 of the Statutory Instruments Act, made under an Act of Parliament, other than a provision referred to in subsection (1), is to be read as a reference to the “Sergei Magnitsky Global Sanctions Act”.

1991, c. 11

Broadcasting Act

23 The Broadcasting Act is amended by adding the following after subsection 22(1):

Restriction — broadcasting undertakings subject to influence

Start of inserted block
(1.‍1) No licence shall be issued or renewed under this Part in relation to a broadcasting undertaking, including one that distributes foreign programming that is — despite any measure that the Commission could take under this Part — vulnerable to being significantly influenced by a foreign national or entity

  • (a) that has committed acts or omissions that the Senate or the House of Commons has recognized as genocide; or

  • (b) that is the subject of an order or regulation made under section 4 of the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) or section 4 of the Sergei Magnitsky Global Sanctions Act.

    End of inserted block

24 Section 24 of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (3):

Exception — broadcasting undertaking subject to influence

Start of inserted block
(4) Despite subsection (1), the licence of a broadcasting undertaking referred to in subsection 22(1.‍1) must be revoked immediately.
End of inserted block
Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons

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