Bill C-281 (Historical)

International Human Rights Act

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

This bill is from the 44th Parliament, 1st session, which ended in January 2025.

Sponsor

Philip Lawrence Conservative

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

Status

In committee (Senate), as of May 29, 2024
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

This enactment amends the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to impose certain requirements on the Minister of Foreign Affairs in relation to international human rights. It also amends the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) to require the Minister of Foreign Affairs to respond to a report submitted by a parliamentary committee that recommends that sanctions be imposed under that Act against a foreign national.
In addition, this enactment amends the Broadcasting Act to prohibit the issue or renewal of a licence in relation to a broadcasting undertaking that is vulnerable to being significantly influenced by a foreign national or entity that has committed acts or omissions that theSenate or the House of Commons has recognized as genocide or that is subject to sanctions under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) or under the Special Economic Measures Act .
Finally, it amends the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act to prohibit a person from investing in an entity that has contravened certain provisions of the Act.

Elsewhere

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

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-281s:

C-281 (2021) An Act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (certificate of competency)

C-281 (2016) National Local Food Day Act

C-281 (2013) An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act (discontinuance of listed sidings)

C-281 (2011) An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act (discontinuance of listed sidings)

Votes

June 7, 2023 Passed 3rd reading and adoption of 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

May 31, 2023 Passed Concurrence at report stage of 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

May 31, 2023 Passed 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 (report stage amendment)

Nov. 16, 2022 Passed 2nd reading of 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

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill C-281, the international human rights act, aims to promote and protect human rights internationally by amending several existing acts. The bill seeks to increase government transparency and accountability by requiring the Minister of Foreign Affairs to report annually on human rights efforts and prisoners of conscience, subject to redactions for safety. It also aims to strengthen Parliament's role in foreign policy by compelling government responses to committee recommendations on Magnitsky sanctions and preventing the issuance of broadcasting licenses to entities linked to genocide. Finally, the bill addresses investments in cluster munitions, although concerns remain about potential unintended consequences for investors.

Conservative

Supports bill C-281: The Conservative party supports Bill C-281, the international human rights act, seeing it as a way to raise awareness, ensure accountability, and strengthen Canada's role in promoting human rights globally. It addresses prisoners of conscience, Magnitsky sanctions, broadcasting of propaganda, and cluster munitions.
Focus on accountability: A unifying theme of the bill is strengthening Parliament's role in standing up for human rights and increasing government accountability to elected officials on human rights issues. It requires reporting to Parliament on human rights activities and responses to recommendations related to Magnitsky sanctions.
Prisoners of conscience: The bill addresses the issue of prisoners of conscience by requiring the government to publicize its efforts to help them, including names where appropriate, while allowing for redactions to protect individuals. It also mandates consultation with families to determine whether publishing a name would imperil the individual.
CRTC and genocide: The bill includes a provision to prevent foreign regimes from broadcasting propaganda over Canadian airwaves, particularly those responsible for genocide. It aims to prevent the spread of genocidal messages from authoritarian powers and ensures that Parliament's recognition of genocide has concrete impact.

NDP

Generally supports the bill: The NDP is happy to support Bill C-281, thanking the member for Northumberland—Peterborough South for bringing it forward, while also noting that Canada's approach to international human rights could be much stronger.
Amendment on prisoners of conscience: The NDP proposed an amendment concerning the list of prisoners of conscience, giving the minister power to withhold information to protect the prisoner's safety, after consulting with family members. The committee agreed to this amendment, addressing concerns about the potential risks of a fully public list.
Criticizes lack of human rights strategy: The NDP criticizes the Liberal government for rejecting an amendment to develop a government-wide international human rights strategy. They feel that this goes against expert advice and the government's stated goal to promote human rights, highlighting inconsistency and hypocrisy.
Disappointment on cluster munitions: The NDP expresses disappointment that the Liberals refused to fix section 11 of the cluster munitions act, despite introducing the same amendment themselves in the past. They argue that this section undermines the treaty and goes against the opinions of many NATO allies and expert witnesses.

Bloc

Bill has noble intentions: The MP acknowledges the noble motivations behind Bill C-281, but believes it is flawed due to its broad scope and various issues that remain despite attempts to fix them through amendments.
Criticism of government actions: The MP criticizes the government's removal of the requirement for the Minister to develop and maintain a government-wide international human rights strategy, despite the government's bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.
Concerns about Magnitsky Act: The MP notes the government's lack of enforcement of the Magnitsky Act and expresses concern that the bill's amendment might bind the government to consider the opinions of the House and its committees regarding states recognized as having committed genocide.
Issues with cluster munitions provision: The MP raises concerns about the provision prohibiting investments in entities that violate the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, questioning whether the government's plan to purchase F-35 aircraft from Lockheed Martin, a manufacturer of cluster munitions, would violate the law, and noting that many Canadians may unknowingly have investments in companies that make cluster munitions and thus be liable under the law.

Liberal

Generally supports the bill: The government is strongly committed to promoting, protecting, and advancing human rights internationally, which aligns with the bill's purpose.
Reporting requirements concerns: While supporting greater transparency, the government has concerns about the requirement to produce a list of prisoners of conscience, fearing it could endanger their safety and compromise effective diplomacy. Discretion and the principle of 'do no harm' should be paramount.
Magnitsky law improvements: The government appreciates the amendments made to the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, including ensuring consistent timelines for responses to committee reports and avoiding premature warnings to potential sanction targets.
Cluster Munitions Act wording: While supporting the prohibition of investments in cluster munitions, the government remains concerned about the bill's wording and believes it would be stronger with an element of intent to protect innocent investors from being held criminally liable for actions of professional investment managers.

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International Human Rights ActPrivate Members' Business

May 31st, 2023 / 3:50 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

I declare Motion No. 1 carried. I therefore declare Motions Nos. 2 and 3 carried.

International Human Rights ActPrivate Members' Business

May 31st, 2023 / 3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON

moved that the bill, as amended, be concurred in at report stage with further amendments.

International Human Rights ActPrivate Members' Business

May 31st, 2023 / 3:50 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division or wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

International Human Rights ActPrivate Members' Business

May 31st, 2023 / 3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON

Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded division.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #341

International Human Rights ActPrivate Members' Business

May 31st, 2023 / 4:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

I declare the motion carried.