Foreign Affairs and International Development

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met to study Bill C-219, the Sergei Magnitsky international anti-corruption and human rights act, introduced by James Bezan. Bezan presented the bill as an update to Canada’s existing Magnitsky sanctions regime, aiming to close loopholes by defining transnational repression, banning immediate family members of sanctioned individuals from using Canada as a safe haven, requiring annual parliamentary reporting on prisoners of conscience, and establishing timelines for the forfeiture of frozen assets. He also proposed amendments to the Broadcasting Act to revoke licences of media outlets operated by sanctioned entities or states recognized by Parliament as having committed genocide.

Bezan told the committee that the bill would strengthen coordination among the RCMP, FINTRAC, and Global Affairs Canada to enforce sanctions and prevent corrupt foreign officials from hiding wealth in Canada. He cited examples such as the delayed removal of Russia Today from Canadian airwaves and the prolonged freezing of Russian assets like the Antonov aircraft at Pearson airport as reasons for the new timelines. He expressed openness to reasonable amendments, including on the publication of prisoner names and on ensuring the French version of the broadcasting clause matches the English version.

Committee members from all parties broadly supported the bill’s intent. The Liberal member indicated the government would propose amendments to avoid duplication, reduce red tape, and protect human rights defenders from unintended risks. The Bloc Québécois member raised concerns about the annual report’s requirement to publish prisoner information without family consent and about potential impacts on freedom of expression under the Broadcasting Act amendments. The committee did not vote on the bill or any amendments, leaving the detailed clause-by-clause consideration for a future meeting.