Evidence of meeting #30 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was iran.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Finally, I have a very short question. Is the Basij force linked directly to the IRGC?
Director of Policy, Canada, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Yes, it is. It does fall under the IRGC command centre. There is one degree of separation, so it's not one of the primary branches, but it is immediately under that. It is intrinsically connected to the IRGC.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Just to follow up on our other conversation, it's my understanding that currently the Government of Canada sanctions individual senior members of the IRGC through the SEMA legislation, restricting them from doing business with Canadian companies. If the IRGC were to be listed as a terrorist organization, what difference in impact would it have?
Director of Policy, Canada, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Yes, senior leaders have been designated under SEMA, as have specific branches of the IRGC, as I've mentioned. So it is a good question: what will the terrorist listing do that SEMA has not? I tried to address that.
First of all, the targeted parties will be broader. Not every branch of the IRGC, and certainly not every relevant senior individual, has been listed under SEMA. Doing a blanket listing of the IRGC under the Criminal Code listing process is much more comprehensive.
Similarly, the penalties under the Criminal Code are much more severe than they are under SEMA. Generally, I believe giving law enforcement options under the Criminal Code will be helpful in terms of being able to target this particular concern.
Again, very importantly, SEMA sanctions pertain only to Iran's nuclear activity. This does not address at all the organization's terrorist involvement, so we need to be using each one of our tools as they apply. If the IRGC is a terrorist organization, let's list them as a terrorist organization. If they're breaching international requests regarding their nuclear transparency, let us impose both the sanctions under the United Nations Act and our own sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Are you aware of the IRGC being actively involved with Canadian companies?
Director of Policy, Canada, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Oh, right, you asked about that before. I cannot point to specific names or companies right now, but first of all, that's something I can look into for you—although it takes a considerable amount of research, and one of the arguments we are making is that this job actually should fall to government. Government has the resources to be identifying what are IRGC front companies or companies linked to the IRGC in some fundamental way and operating within Canada.
Given our resources—our oil and gas resources—and given our physical proximity to the United States, there's no question that Canada is seen as a very desirable place for Iranians to set up shop. Again, let me specify that Iranians, generally, are not my concern. It is the IRGC-linked individuals who may have more nefarious intentions that I am concerned about. Obviously, Iranians doing legitimate business here in Canada.... It's certainly being done with my blessing.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
So you have a belief that the IRGC is active corporately in Canada, but you don't have specific examples at this time?
Director of Policy, Canada, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
That's correct.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
That actually uses up the available time, and perfectly, as a matter of fact, at nine minutes and five seconds.
Thank you very much for coming in as our witness. You were informative once again, as you were the last time you were here a parliament or two ago, and we very much appreciate it.
Thank you very much, everybody.
We are adjourned.