Bill C-353

Foreign Hostage Takers Accountability Act

An Act to provide for the imposition of restrictive measures against foreign hostage takers and those who practice arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations and to make related amendments to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Sponsor

Melissa Lantsman Conservative

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

Status

In committee (House), as of June 5, 2024

Subscribe to a feed (what's a feed?) of speeches and votes in the House related to Bill C-353.

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment authorizes the Government of Canada to take restrictive measures against foreign nationals, foreign states and foreign entities that engage in hostage taking or arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations of Canadians or eligible protected persons outside Canada. It also requires the Minister of Foreign Affairs to provide assistance to the families of such hostages and detained individuals and to establish and implement programs to encourage cooperation for the release of such Canadians and eligible protected persons. Finally, this enactment makes related amendments to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act .

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.

Votes

June 5, 2024 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-353, An Act to provide for the imposition of restrictive measures against foreign hostage takers and those who practice arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations and to make related amendments to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee, on Nov. 26, 2024

Tara Denham, Assistant Deputy Minister, Emergency Management, Legal and Consular Affairs Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Superintendent Denis Beaudoin, Director General, Federal Policing, National Security, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Derek Janhevich, Director, Inadmissibility Policy, Canada Border Services Agency
Vasken Khabayan, Acting Executive Director, Sanctions Policy, and Sanctions Outreach, Compliance & Enforcement, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Jeff Robertson, Manager, Inadmissibility Policy, Canada Border Services Agency
Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Alexandre (Sacha) Vassiliev

Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee, on Nov. 28, 2024

Robert R. Fowler, Retired Public Servant, As an Individual
Lara Symons, Chief Executive Officer, Hostage International
Sarah Teich, Co-Founder and President, Human Rights Action Group
Tim McSorley, National Coordinator, International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group
Sheryl Saperia, Chief Executive Officer, Secure Canada
Sabine Nölke, Ambassador (retired), As an Individual
Haras Rafiq, Director, Secure Canada

Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee, on Dec. 3, 2024

Clerk, Mr. Jacques Maziade
Superintendent Denis Beaudoin, Director General, Federal Policing, National Security, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Vasken Khabayan, Acting Executive Director, Sanctions Policy, and Sanctions Outreach, Compliance & Enforcement, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Alexandre (Sacha) Vassiliev