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, seeks to amend several existing acts to strengthen Canada's commitment to upholding international human rights. The bill aims to increase transparency and accountability by requiring the Minister of Foreign Affairs to publish annual reports on human rights measures and prisoners of conscience, and by mandating a response to parliamentary committee recommendations on Magnitsky sanctions. Additionally, the bill seeks to prevent foreign propaganda by amending the Broadcasting Act and to restrict investments in cluster munitions through amendments to the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act.

Conservative

Strengthen international human rights: Bill C-281, the international human rights act, seeks to strengthen Canada's position in advancing international human rights. It aims to hold human rights violators accountable and provide more peace and security to people in Canada and around the world.
Increased accountability: The bill introduces reporting requirements and an accountability mechanism regarding Magnitsky sanctions. Within 40 days of Parliament passing a motion to sanction an individual, the Department of Foreign Affairs would be required to report back explaining why or why not sanctions are being enforced.
Prevent propaganda dissemination: The bill amends the Broadcasting Act to prevent countries committing genocide or found guilty of significant human rights violations from using Canadian airwaves to spread propaganda. This amendment aims to protect vulnerable Canadians from malicious and nefarious content.
Support victims of war: The bill strengthens the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act by denying financing to companies that build and produce cluster munitions. It seeks to reduce civilian casualties, especially among children, caused by these weapons of terror.

NDP

Support for bill C-281: The NDP supports the bill because it addresses some weaknesses in Canada's approach to human rights, despite acknowledging that more could have been proposed.
Improve transparency and accountability: The NDP supports amendments to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to increase transparency and accountability through annual reporting on measures taken to advance human rights, though an international human rights action strategy would give a clear yardstick to measure the report against.
Need for sanctions regime improvements: The NDP believes Canada's sanctions regime needs improvements regarding transparency and enforcement, and supports the bill's mechanism for parliamentary committees to nominate designations to Canada's sanctions lists.
Cluster Munitions concerns: While supporting improvements to the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, the NDP notes the bill does not address the major problem of permitting Canadians to transport or directly use cluster munitions in joint operations with other countries' militaries.

Bloc

Supporting Bill C-281: The Bloc Québécois supports Bill C-281, which seeks to combat human rights violations internationally, and encourages further debate and improvement of the bill in committee.
Increased government transparency: The Bloc supports the bill's measures to increase government transparency and accountability regarding international human rights, particularly through the annual report and list of prisoners of conscience.
Strengthening Magnitsky law: The Bloc supports amendments to the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Magnitsky law) that would require the Minister of Foreign Affairs to respond to committee recommendations regarding sanctions within a specified timeframe, enhancing the government's accountability.
Addressing foreign influence: The Bloc supports the bill's amendment to the Broadcasting Act, which aims to block foreign media influenced by entities involved in genocide or sanctioned under the Sergei Magnitsky Law, to combat disinformation and protect against destabilization efforts.

Liberal

Supports intent, seeks improvements: The Liberal Party supports the bill's intention to uphold Canada's commitment to human rights but aims to strengthen it to effectively address human rights situations, suggesting amendments to improve its effectiveness and avoid unintended consequences.
Caution on public lists: Liberals expressed concern that publicizing a list of prisoners of conscience could endanger the safety of those individuals and undermine Canada's ability to provide support.
Sanctions response concerns: The party believes the proposed 40-day response period for sanctions recommendations is impractical and could hinder coordination with allies, recommending adjustments to align with standard parliamentary practices.
Cluster munition investment issues: While welcoming the prohibition on direct investments in cluster munitions, the Liberals raise concerns about the enforceability and potential unintended consequences of prohibiting indirect investments, such as those held in mutual funds.

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International Human Rights ActPrivate Members' Business

November 16th, 2022 / 3:40 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I wish to inform the House that because of the deferred recorded division, Government Orders will be extended by 25 minutes.