OTTAWA — Conservative MP James Bezan introduced a bill on Tuesday aimed at reforming Canada’s sanctions regime. The proposed legislation seeks to extend sanctions to the immediate family members of human rights abusers and address issues of transnational repression.

Bezan emphasized the need for Canada to prevent itself from becoming a refuge for corrupt foreign officials. “We want to make sure that Canada is not being used as a safe haven for corrupt foreign officials that are hiding their families here,” he stated on Parliament Hill. He added that it is crucial to hold accountable those responsible for violations of international norms and human rights.

The bill, known as Bill C-219, would prohibit the immediate relatives of human rights abusers from traveling to Canada or holding financial assets within the country. This measure responds to reports that Iranian officials involved in repression are sending their children to Canadian universities.

Additionally, the legislation would require the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (Fintrac) to assist in drafting and enforcing sanctions. It would also mandate that government ministers respond to parliamentary requests regarding specific sanctions.

The bill includes provisions to revoke broadcast licenses from media outlets that are significantly influenced by sanctioned entities, effectively banning many state-run channels from operating in Canada.

Liberal MP John McKay expressed support for the bill, stating it is necessary to update legislation to reflect the changing behaviors of autocratic regimes. “I’m looking forward to the time where this legislation gets enforced with enthusiasm and effectiveness,” he said, referencing the ongoing abuses in Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Irwin Cotler, head of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, noted that the bill could help address foreign interference operations by countries like Iran, Russia, and China that target diaspora communities in Canada. “This legislation will protect Canada’s sovereignty, security, and the rights of its people, while holding the major human rights violators accountable,” he said.

The bill also aims to ensure that Canada follows through on the forfeiture of assets frozen under sanctions within specified timelines. Ottawa has long promised to seize a Russian cargo plane that landed in Toronto before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and to forfeit assets linked to oligarch Roman Abramovich. Both actions face legal hurdles and would mark Canada as the first country to forfeit assets under sanctions laws.

Furthermore, the legislation proposes to rename the sanctions law to honor Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian whistleblower who died in prison after exposing a massive tax fraud. Although Canada enacted a Magnitsky law in 2017 targeting foreign officials, it has rarely been utilized. Global Affairs Canada has indicated that the law's limited application is due to its high evidentiary standards and focus on individuals rather than entities.

Bezan, who sponsored the original 2017 law, stated, “Magnitsky’s name is synonymous with standing up for human rights, good governance, and international peace and security.”

He was joined by Bill Browder, an American financier and advocate for sanctions against Russia, who highlighted the need for improvements in the sanctions legislation. “We found deficiencies and flaws that need to be fixed and tightened,” Browder said. “This is a great way of tightening up the sanctions legislation and not letting the bad guys get away with it.”

The introduction of this bill follows an internal review by Global Affairs Canada, which found that the current sanctions regime is confusing and under-resourced. Bezan expressed hope that his bill would address the issues identified in the review and called for increased government oversight of sanctions enforcement and research.