Canadian Economic Sanctions

Act: United Nations Act, R.S., 1985, c. U-2; Special Economic Measures Act, 1992, c. 17; Export and Import Permits Act, R.S., 1985, c. E-19
Regulation: Not applicable

Summary

Sanctions are measures, not including the use of armed force, that are intended to bring about changes in the policies or behaviour of a specific state. Sanctions can encompass a wide variety of measures including:

• limitations on official and diplomatic contacts or travel;
• the imposition of legal measures to restrict or prohibit trade or other economic activity between Canada and the target state; and
• the seizure or freezing of property situated in Canada.

In order to maximize the effectiveness of any sanctions regime, particularly one involving trade and economic measures, Canadian policy and legislative instruments seek to ensure that, wherever possible, sanction measures are applied multilaterally.

The Parliament of Canada has enacted legislation authorizing the imposition of trade and economic sanctions through:

• the United Nations Act;
• the Special Economic Measures Act; and 
• some provisions of the Export and Import Permits Act.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is the responsible minister for these statutes. Unofficial versions of these statutes can be found at the "Consolidated Statutes" Web site of the Department of Justice.

Further information is available on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Web site regarding:

• countries or groups that are or were subject to Canadian economic sanctions;
• countries no longer subject to Canadian economic sanctions; and
• procedures for seeking exemption certificates and permits.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Manitoba Contact(s):
See National Contact.

National Contact(s):
Export and Import Controls Bureau (EICB)
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
4th Floor, Tower C
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0G2
Telephone: 613-995-8104
Fax: 613-996-0612
Toll-free (information): 1-800-267-8376 (in Canada)
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-944-9136
Web site: http://www.international.gc.ca/international/index.aspx?lang=eng
 

United Nations, Human Rights and Economic Law Division
Economic Law Section
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0G2
Telephone: 613-995-1108
Fax: 613-992-2467
Toll-free (information): 1-800-267-8376 (in Canada)
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-944-9136
E-mail: sanctions@international.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.international.gc.ca/international/index.aspx?lang=eng