Bill C-204 (Historical)

Sudan Accountability Act

An Act to encourage accountability by Canada and the international community with respect to Sudan

This bill was last introduced in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session, which ended in March 2011.

This bill was previously introduced in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session and the 40th Parliament, 1st Session.

Sponsor

Irwin Cotler  Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of Nov. 21, 2008
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment provides that executive agencies must ensure that any contract entered into for the procurement of goods or services includes a certification from the contractor that the contractor does not conduct business operations in Sudan. The enactment also provides that the Government of Canada shall divest from bonds, stocks and other financial instruments invested in Sudan within six months after it comes into force. Finally, it provides that the Government of Canada shall work with members of the international community to adopt measures that will stop countries from knowingly or unknowingly enabling the Government of Sudan to continue to oppress and commit genocide against the people of the Darfur region and other regions of Sudan.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Sudan Accountability ActRoutine Proceedings

November 21st, 2008 / 12:05 p.m.
See context

Liberal

Irwin Cotler Liberal Mount Royal, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-204, An Act to encourage accountability by Canada and the international community with respect to Sudan.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to reintroduce the Sudan Accountability Act, a bill that seeks to encourage accountability and enhance the role of Canada and the international community in combatting the genocide in Darfur.

On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Genocide Convention and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is only appropriate that this legislation be introduced to combat the first genocide of the 21st century through targeted divestment and international initiatives. We know that more than 400,000 people have died in this genocide by attrition in Darfur, that at least four million people are on a life support system and that two million have been internally displaced and are the target of continuing assaults.

As the student posters at Darfur rallies around the globe ask: If not us, who, and if not now, when?

Even though this bill alone will not put an end to the genocide, it is a vital step that we must take immediately.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)