Vol. 148, No. 14 — July 2, 2014
Registration
SOR/2014-171 June 21, 2014
SPECIAL ECONOMIC MEASURES ACT
Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations
P.C. 2014-848 June 21, 2014
Whereas the Governor in Council is of the opinion that the actions of the Russian Federation constitute a grave breach of international peace and security that has resulted or is likely to result in a serious international crisis;
Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, pursuant to subsections 4(1) to (3) of the Special Economic Measures Act (see footnote a), makes the annexed Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations.
REGULATIONS AMENDING THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC MEASURES (RUSSIA) REGULATIONS
AMENDMENTS
1. Paragraph 2(a) of the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (see footnote 1) is replaced by the following:
- (a) a person engaged in activities that directly or indirectly facilitate, support, provide funding for or contribute to a violation or attempted violation of the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Ukraine or that obstruct the work of international organizations in Ukraine;
2. Part 1 of the Schedule to the Regulations is amended by adding the following after item 47:
48. Vladimir SHAMANOV
APPLICATION PRIOR TO PUBLICATION
Statutory Instruments Act
3. For the purpose of paragraph 11(2)(a) of the Statutory Instruments Act, these Regulations apply before they are published in the Canada Gazette.
COMING INTO FORCE
Registration
4. These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.
REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT
(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)
Issues
Russia’s continued military aggression in eastern Ukraine is a clear violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Increasing violence and deadly clashes continue to indicate that Russia is supporting and organizing pro-Russian separatist groups in Ukraine with the aim to interfere and destabilize Ukraine in advance of the May 25 elections.
Background
Acting in coordination with the United States and the European Union, the Governor in Council has found that the actions of the Russian Federation constitute a grave breach of international peace and security that has resulted or is likely to result in a serious international crisis. Therefore, the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations were passed imposing sanctions on Russia on March 17, 2014, and amended on March 19, 2014, March 21, 2014, April 28, 2014, May 4, 2014, and May 12, 2014.
In April and May 2014, Russian-backed militants have seized Government buildings, clashed with Government forces and captured a number of hostages across eastern and southern Ukraine. On May 3, 2014, violence spread to the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa as clashes resulted in approximately 50 deaths and over 200 injured. The following week, violence erupted in the port city of Mariupol as gunmen attacked the police station, and in Donetsk, gunmen attacked the Red Cross and held several of its workers on accusations of espionage. Incidents of violence were also reported in Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Horlivka and other key cities, indicating that pro-Russian insurgency is spreading in eastern Ukraine.
On May 11, 2014, two Russian-backed separatist organizations in Ukraine (the Donetsk and Luhansk “People’s Republics”) held illegal referenda, claiming that 89% and 96% of voters respectively, voted in favour of “self-rule.” The two regions declared independence and insurgents in Donetsk asked to join Russia. There are multiple reports of harassment, fraud and intimidation, further demonstrating the illegitimacy of the referenda. The separatist authorities stated that they will prevent the presidential elections from being held as planned in the Donetsk region on May 25, 2014. Canada and the international community responded by denouncing the referenda as “illegal” and organized by Russian-backed rebels to foment division and unrest in the region. Russia has also threatened to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine in June.
On May 12, 2014, Canada introduced further sanctions indicating that Russia’s illegal occupation of Ukraine and provocative military activity remains a serious concern to the international community. Canada also announced that it will continue to apply pressure that will further isolate Russia economically and politically until Russia de-escalates the situation and demonstrates its respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Objectives
The proposed Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (the Regulations) amend section 2 of the existing Regulations and add one individual to the Schedule.
Description
The proposed Regulations amend section 2 of the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, which describes who may be listed as a designated person. This includes broadening subsection 2(a) to include persons whose activities obstruct the work of international organizations in Ukraine. This amended category continues to capture all designations that fell within the description in subsection 2(a) prior to these Regulations.
The proposed Regulations also add one individual to the list of designated persons under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations.
Any person in Canada and any Canadian outside Canada are prohibited from
- dealing in any property, wherever situated, held by or on behalf of a designated person;
- entering into or facilitating, directly or indirectly, any transaction related to such a dealing;
- providing any financial or related service in respect of such a dealing;
- making goods, wherever situated, available to a designated person; and
- providing any financial or related service to or for the benefit of a designated person.
Exceptions to the above-noted prohibitions are available for the following:
- Payments made by or on behalf of designated persons pursuant to contracts entered into prior to the coming into force of the Regulations, provided that the payments are not made to or for the benefit of a designated person;
- Pension payments to any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada;
- Transactions in respect of accounts at financial institutions held by diplomatic missions, provided that the transaction is required in order for the mission to fulfill its diplomatic functions under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, or, transactions required in order to maintain the mission premises if the diplomatic mission has been temporarily or permanently recalled;
- Transactions by international organizations with diplomatic status, agencies of the United Nations, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, or Canadian nongovernmental organizations that have entered into a grant or contribution agreement with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development;
- Transactions necessary for a Canadian to transfer to a non-designated person any accounts funds or investments of a Canadian held by a designated person on the day on which that person became designated;
- Financial services required in order for a designated person to obtain legal services in Canada with respect to the application of any of the prohibitions in the Regulations; and
- Loan repayments made to any person in Canada or any Canadian abroad in respect of loans entered into before the coming into force of the Regulations, enforcement of security in respect of those loans, or payments by guarantors guaranteeing those loans.
“One-for-One” Rule
The “One-for-One” Rule applies to this proposal, as there are minimal administrative costs to business because of the reporting requirement. However, the administrative burden associated with these Regulations is carved out from the “One-for-One” Rule, as they address unique, exceptional circumstances.
Small business lens
The small business lens does not apply to this proposal, as there are no costs (or insignificant costs) on small business and small businesses would not be disproportionately affected.
Consultation
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada drafted the Regulations in consultation with the Department of Justice and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Rationale
The measures contained in the Regulations demonstrate Canada’s concern about Russia’s continuing violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Implementation, enforcement and service standards
Canada’s sanctions regulations are enforced by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency. In accordance with section 8 of the Special Economic Measures Act, every person who wilfully contravenes these Regulations is liable upon summary conviction to a fine of not more than $25,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year or to both, or upon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years.
Contact
Jennifer May
Director
East/Southeast Europe Bilateral and Commercial Relations
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
Telephone: 343-203-3603
Fax: 613-995-1277
Email: Jennifer.May@international.gc.ca
- Footnote a
S.C. 1992, c. 17 - Footnote 1
SOR/2014-58