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Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

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Syria

Latest Developments

On November 28, 2012, in response to the continued gravity of the situation in Syria, Canada imposed further sanctions against Syria under the Special Economic Measures Act. The measures further expand Canada’s targeted sanctions against the Syrian regime and those that provide it with support.

The measures impose an assets freeze and dealings prohibition on ten new individuals and three additional entities associated with the Assad regime.

Overview

On May 24, 2011, Prime Minister Harper made a statement announcing that targeted sanctions would be imposed against members of the current Syrian regime under the Special Economic Measures Act. The Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations came into force in order to respond to the gravity of the situation in Syria.

Protests for democratic reforms have been ongoing in various cities across Syria since March 15, 2011. The Syrian Government’s violent crackdown on peaceful protesters has led to many civilian deaths and injuries. Thousands of civilians have been detained arbitrarily and there are credible reports of summary executions and torture. The actions of the Syrian Government have also led thousands of Syrians to flee to neighbouring countries, including Lebanon, resulting in a serious humanitarian crisis in the region. The violent crackdown in Syria and the cross-border incursions into neighbouring countries resulting in fatalities and the mass exodus of refugees have caused a grave breach of international peace and security that is likely to result in a serious international crisis.

On August 13, 2011, Minister Baird made a statement announcing that Canada was taking measures to freeze the assets of additional individuals and entities associated with the Syrian government.

On October 4, 2011, Minister Baird made a statement announcing that Canada had expanded its targeted sanctions by prohibiting imports of petroleum products from Syria and new investments in the Syrian oil industry.

On December 23, 2011, Minister Baird made a statement announcing that Canada had expanded its targeted sanctions by prohibiting all imports from Syria, except for food for human consumption, as well as all new investment in Syria and the export to Syria of telecommunications monitoring equipment.

On January 25, 2012, Minister Baird made a statement announcing that Canada had expanded its targeted sanctions by imposing an assets freeze and dealings prohibition on additional individuals and entities associated with the Assad regime.

On March 5, 2012, Minister Baird made a statement announcing that Canada had expanded its targeted sanctions by broadening the prohibition on financial services, previously limited to the petroleum trade and related investments, to include the provision and acquisition of all financial or other related services to or from Syria. The new measures also imposed an assets freeze and dealings prohibition on seven additional individuals associated with the Assad regime as well as the Central Bank of Syria.

On March 30, 2012, Minister Baird made a statement announcing that Canada had expanded its targeted sanctions by imposing an assets freeze and dealings prohibition on additional individuals and entities associated with the Assad regime.

On May 18, 2012, Minister Baird made a statement announcing that Canada had expanded its targeted sanctions by prohibiting the export, sale, supply or shipping of luxury goods to Syria. The new measures also imposed an assets freeze and dealings prohibition on three additional individuals and three entities associated with the Assad regime.

On July 6, 2012, Minister Baird made a statement announcing that Canada had expanded its targeted sanctions by prohibiting the export, sale, supply or shipping to Syria of a number of goods that can be used for internal repression as well as in the production of chemical and biological weapons. The new measures also imposed an assets freeze and dealings prohibition on two additional entities associated with the Assad regime.

On August 31, 2012, Minister Baird made a statement announcing that Canada was taking measures to freeze the assets of additional individuals and entities associated with the Syrian government.

Sanctions

In addition to the restrictions on dealings with designated persons, the Regulations prohibit the import of goods from Syria, excluding food for human consumption. They also prohibit any new investments in Syria and the export to Syria of: luxury goods; equipment, including technical data, used for monitoring telecommunications; and the goods listed in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Causing, assisting or promoting prohibited activities is likewise prohibited. Some exceptions exist, including the following:

  • Payments made by or on behalf of designated persons pursuant to contracts entered into prior to the coming into force of that person’s designation;
  • Humanitarian efforts and goods, such as food and medical supplies or equipment, and assistance and activities related to stabilization, democratization, development and reconstruction, if sent through one of the specified categories of organisations;
  • Personal or settlers’ effects shipped by an individual leaving Syria and used by the individual or his or her immediate family;
  • Personal correspondence up to 250 g per item;
  • Pension payments to any person in Canada, any Canadian abroad or any person in Syria;
  • Transactions necessary for a Canadian to transfer any existing accounts, funds or investments of Canadians held with a designated person to a non-designated person; and
  • Non-commercial remittances of $ 40,000 or less.

A separate Special Economic Measures (Syria) Permit Authorization Order made pursuant to subsection 4(4) of the Special Economic Measures Act authorizes the Minister of Foreign Affairs to issue to any person in Canada and any Canadian outside Canada a permit to carry out a specified activity or transaction, or any class of activity or transaction, that is otherwise restricted or prohibited pursuant to the Regulations.

Selected Documents

Regulations and Orders made under the Special Economic Measures Act:

Announcements related to the Regulations made under the Special Economic Measures Act:

  • August 31, 2012 statement by Minister Baird announcing further sanctions against Syria: News Release
  • July 6, 2012 statement by Minister Baird announcing further sanctions against Syria: News Release
  • May 18, 2012 statement by Minister Baird announcing further sanctions against Syria: News Release
  • March 30, 2012 statement by Minister Baird announcing further sanctions against Syria: News Release
  • March 5, 2012 statement by Minister Baird announcing further sanctions against Syria: News Release
  • January 25, 2012 statement by Minister Baird announcing further sanctions against Syria: News Release
  • December 23, 2011 statement by Minister Baird announcing further sanctions against Syria: News Release
  • October 4, 2011 statement by Minister Baird announcing further sanctions against Syria: News Release
  • August 13, 2011 statement by Minister Baird on Situation in Syria: News Release | Video
  • May 24, 2011 News Release: PM announces sanctions on Syria

Backgrounder: Syrian sanctions

Links

Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada: Subject: Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations

Canada's Response to the Situation in Syria

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions relating to this page, please email sanctions@international.gc.ca.

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Date Modified:
2012-12-27