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Bill C-281

44th Parl. 1st Sess.

May 29, 2024

International Human Rights Act

At consideration in committee in the Senate
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This bill, called the International Human Rights Act, makes several changes to existing laws. It requires the Minister of Foreign Affairs to publish a report each year outlining Canada's efforts to promote human rights internationally, including actions taken to support prisoners of conscience. It also requires the Minister to respond to recommendations from parliamentary committees to impose sanctions on foreign nationals who have committed corrupt acts. The bill also prohibits issuing or renewing broadcasting licenses to undertakings that are vulnerable to foreign influence related to genocide or corruption sanctions. Finally, the bill amends the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act to restrict investments in entities that have contravened certain provisions of the act.

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House Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.

May 04, 2023

Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (FAAE)

Re. Bill C-281, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of …

Report 16 presented to the House

In accordance with its Order of Reference of Wednesday, November 16, 2022, your committee has considered Bill C-281, 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 Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, and agreed on Thursday, April 27, 2023, to report it with the following amendments:

Clause 2

That Bill C-281, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing line 12 on page 1 to line 2 on page 2 with the following:

“in 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 government or detaining authority,

(i.1) the names of the prisoners of conscience,

(ii) the circumstances of the detentions, and

(iii) 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 detaining governments or authorities; 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;

(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.

(4.1) 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.

(5) 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.”

That Bill C-281, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 2 on page 2 the following:

“(5) The Minister must develop and maintain a government-wide international human rights strategy.”

Clause 3

That Bill C-281, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing lines 8 to 11 on page 2 with the following:

“Parliament recom‐”

That Bill C-281, in Clause 3, be amended

(a) by replacing line 15 on page 2 with the following:

“whether or not the order or regulation has been made and”

(b) by replacing lines 19 to 21 on page 2 with the following:

“the case may be, within the timeline specified in the Standing Orders or rules of the Senate for responses to committee reports and must be posted in a prominent location on the”

(c) by replacing line 24 on page 2 with the following:

“(3) If Parliament is prorogued before the re-”

(d) by replacing line 29 on page 2 with the following:

“the response. If Parliament is prorogued or dissolved before the response is tabled, the response must be tabled as soon as fea-”

Clause 4

That Bill C-281, in Clause 4, be amended

(a) by replacing line 3 on page 3 with the following:

“(1.1) No licence shall be issued or renewed”

(b) by replacing lines 5 and 6 on page 3 with the following:

“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”

Clause 5

That Bill C-281, in Clause 5, be amended by replacing line 18 on page 3 with the following:

“mitments under the Convention, particularly its obligations under Article 5 (Victim assistance) and Article 6 (International cooperation and assistance) of the Convention, prohibit the provision of financial assistance and to restrict invest‐”

Your committee has ordered a reprint of Bill C-281, as amended, as a working copy for the use of the House of Commons at the report stage.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 55 to 61) is tabled.

House Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.

April 27, 2023

Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (FAAE)

Re. Bill C-281

Thu Apr 27, 2023 11:09 - 12:55PM
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House Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.

April 25, 2023

Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (FAAE)

Re. Bill C-281, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of …

Report 13 concurred in by the House

Your committee has held meetings on Bill C-281, 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 Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act and has agreed to recommend the following:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 97.1, the committee requests permission from the House to extend of thirty sitting days to consider Bill C-281, 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 Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, referred to the committee on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.

Therefore, your committee's request for an extension is to allow its members to hold its deliberations beyond the present deadline of Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in order to give Bill C-281 the consideration it requires.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 59) is tabled.

House Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.

April 25, 2023

Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (FAAE)

Re. Bill C-281 Situation at the Russia-Ukraine Border and Implications for Peace and Security

Tue Apr 25, 2023 11:09 - 01:02PM
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House Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.

April 24, 2023

Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (FAAE)

Re. Bill C-281, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of …

Report 13 presented to the House

Your committee has held meetings on Bill C-281, 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 Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act and has agreed to recommend the following:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 97.1, the committee requests permission from the House to extend of thirty sitting days to consider Bill C-281, 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 Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, referred to the committee on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.

Therefore, your committee's request for an extension is to allow its members to hold its deliberations beyond the present deadline of Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in order to give Bill C-281 the consideration it requires.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 59) is tabled.