The Special Economic Measures Act (S.C. 1992, c. 17) is a statute of the Parliament of Canada,[2] passed in 1992 under the second Mulroney ministry in the 34th Canadian Parliament. The Government of Canada department responsible for enforcing the Act is the Minister of Foreign Affairs.[3]

Special Economic Measures Act
Parliament of Canada
  • An Act to provide for the imposition of special economic measures
CitationSpecial Economic Measures Act (S.C. 1992, c. 17), last amended on 2023-06-22[1]
Enacted by33rd Canadian Parliament
Assented to1992

History

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In 2011 the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations (SOR/2011-114) were passed.[4]

In 2014 an Iranian plaintiff tried to have the Supreme Court of British Columbia overturn the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations.[5] They had been adopted in 2010, on the recommendation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1737.[6]

The Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations (SOR/2014-60) and the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, (SOR/2014-58) were passed, to the frustration of one Mr Portnov, who had formerly been employed in the Ukrainian administration headed by Viktor Yanukovych.[7]

Upper-level management of the Iranian nuclear programme have repeatedly tried to infiltrate Canada and the SEMA has been used to stop them.[8]

In September 2017 the Special Economic Measures (Venezuela) Regulations (SOR/2017-204) were passed.[9]

On 1 February 2022 rumours of a Russian invasion were thick and a helpful list of Canadian sanctions tools was provided by consultant attorneys. There were then three pieces of secondary legislation that collectively formed the "Sanctions Regime",[10] under the SEMA:

In 2022, Roman Abramovich had some of his assets seized under this Act.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Branch, Legislative Services (27 September 2024). "Special Economic Measures Act". laws-lois.justice.gc.ca.
  2. ^ a b "Canada announces first use of seizure and forfeiture mechanism against sanctioned persons | McCarthy Tétrault". 20 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Special Economic Measures Act". 22 June 2023.
  4. ^ https://canlii.ca/t/jc08r. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ https://canlii.ca/t/g868d. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ https://canlii.ca/t/gsp13. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ https://canlii.ca/t/j4mq5. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ https://canlii.ca/t/jm7mk. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ https://canlii.ca/t/jkx2z. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ "Canada considers amendments to sanctions regime targeting Russia". Borden Ladner Gervais S.E.N.C.R.L., S.R.L. 1 February 2022.