Foreign Affairs Committee on June 15th, 2023

[Amanda Strayer]

I think sanctions enforcement is absolutely critical for their effectiveness. I'm not familiar with the specifics of the example of Haiti that you cited, but in terms of enforcement on the U.S. side, we typically see that it includes visa bans enforcement. It's usually very strong and there are very limited exceptions to that. Being able to freeze assets and block financial transactions, as Professor Nesbitt discussed earlier, a lot of that does, in part, rely on the diligence of financial institutions to be able to ensure there are no transactions going on.

When we're aware of instances where enforcement could be stronger or maybe where there are gaps in enforcement that civil society becomes aware of, we do raise that with the office of foreign assets control and with the State Department for their further follow-up.

Again, I think civil society could be a real partner in some of these situations.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you, Ms. Strayer.

For the final minute and a half, we go to MP McPherson.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you Mr. Chair.

A minute and a half is not very much time.

Ms. Strayer, you talked about the fact that Canada has never imposed sanctions for violations against indigenous victims or members of the LGBTQ2+ community, and rarely for violations against women. I'd like you to clarify that and speak to that, if you could.

[Amanda Strayer]

In our study, we looked at all the sanctions that were done under the JVCFOA and SEMA focused on human rights and corruption since 2017. Our evaluation of that is based on the public statements coming out from Global Affairs Canada when it announces sanctions. That data is based on analysis of those statements coming from the Government of Canada as to why they're imposing the sanctions and the type of conduct they're concerned about. The fact that there's very little recognition of certain marginalized groups, as you mentioned, indicates that governments need to be putting more effort into recognizing how these abuses impact those communities, and putting more concerted effort into ensuring that those abuses are not overlooked and are taken just as seriously as abuses targeting other groups.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you very much for that.

That's all, thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you, Ms. McPherson.

It now being one o'clock, I will thank our two witnesses for their time, their expertise, and their insights. It was very helpful, and we're all very grateful to you for being with us today. Thank you.

Before we adjourn, there are several things. As the members are well aware, a press release did arrive in their inboxes yesterday for the reproductive health report. Is everyone okay with adopting that?

I want everyone to know I had nothing to do with that. It was done by the analysts and the clerk.

Mr. Genuis, go ahead.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I would structure the press release differently, in a few different ways, although it is difficult to discuss in public because that would reveal aspects of what's in the report potentially. There is one recommendation we had put forward that we'd like to see reflected in the press release.

Is it reasonable to provide each party with the opportunity to add a paragraph?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

I think it would inflame a lot of division among all of us if we were to do so. That's why the motion, as you are well aware, Mr. Genuis, states that the chair, the clerk and the analyst can do that. It's so none of us weighs in.

I also wanted to reassure everyone that I had nothing to do with it, because I thought, in all fairness, I shouldn't dabble in that and I should leave it to the clerk and the analyst.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Chair, I agree with you that the minutes from the last meeting reflect the fact that you were given the power to do that.

You asked us if we endorsed the press release, and my answer is no, but I understand that you have the power to put it out based on the agreement.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Okay.

Is everyone good with it, then?

Yes, Mr. Champoux, go ahead.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Chair, the Bloc Québécois has proposed an amendment. Since almost all parties were involved, I wanted to make sure it was taken into consideration.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

I think, again, in fairness, if we open it to one suggestion, we would have to open it to everyone else's suggestions as well, so it would only be fair that we do not delve into details, as you are requesting here, and just keep it as is. Once we open that can of worms, we wouldn't land in a very good place.

(Motion agreed to on division)

Thank you, everyone.

I'll see everyone on Tuesday. We have two hours on the sanctions regime, and then we also have to provide drafting instructions to the analysts.

We're adjourned.