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Tunisia and Egypt
Overview
On March 23, 2011, the Governor in Council made, pursuant to the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials (Tunisia and Egypt) Regulations.
The Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act permits the Government to freeze the assets or restrain property of politically exposed foreign persons at the written request of a foreign state, where the Governor-in-Council has determined that the foreign state is in a state of turmoil or political uncertainty, and where the making of an order or regulation is in the interest of international relations.
The Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials (Tunisia and Egypt) Regulations give effect to written requests from Tunisia and Egypt, which have recently experienced political upheaval, to freeze assets of their former leaders and senior officials or their associates and family members suspected of having misappropriated state funds, or obtained property inappropriately as a result of their office or family, business or personal connections.
Given Canada's support for accountability, rule of law and a transition to democracy in both countries, the Regulations ensure that misappropriated assets held by officials of the former government can be seized so that politically exposed foreign persons may be held accountable.
New Developments
Canada has amended and updated the list of persons whose assets are subject to freezing under the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials (Tunisia and Egypt) Regulations. These changes took effect as of December 14, 2012, which is the date the amending Regulations were registered (SOR/2012-284).
Prohibitions
The Regulations create a freeze of the assets of the politically exposed foreign person listed in the Regulations by prohibiting the following activities by anyone in Canada:
- to deal, directly or indirectly, in any property, wherever situated, of a listed politically exposed foreign person;
- to enter into or facilitate, directly or indirectly, any financial transaction related to a dealing referred to in point (1);
- to provide financial services or other related services in respect of any property of a listed politically exposed foreign person.
Selected Documents
The Act and Regulations are available through the following links:
- Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials (Tunisia and Egypt) Regulations (SOR/2011-78, March 23, 2011)
- Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (PDF, 185 KB) *
Links
- DFAIT Export and Import Controls Bureau
- DFAIT Canada - Egypt Relations
- DFAIT Canada - Tunisia Relations
If you have any comments, questions or suggestions relating to this page, please email: freeze-gel@international.gc.ca.
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