Two Haitians Added to Canada Sanctions List

Summary#

These final regulations amend the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations to add two people to Canada’s sanctions list for Haiti. The change took effect when it was registered on January 12, 2023 and was published in the Canada Gazette on February 1, 2023.

What it does#

• Adds Arnel Bélizaire and Charles Saint-Rémy to Part 2 of the schedule to the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations.
• Makes it illegal for anyone in Canada, and for Canadians abroad, to deal in the property of or provide financial or related services to these listed persons.
• Renders the listed individuals inadmissible to Canada under immigration law.
• Says the rules apply as written even before publication in the Canada Gazette (application before publication).
• Comes into force on the day the regulations were registered (January 12, 2023).
• Lists enforcement and penalties: on summary conviction a fine up to $25,000 or one year in jail (or both); on conviction on indictment, up to five years in jail.
• Enforcement bodies named include the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency; names will be added to the Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List for financial institutions to use.

Who's affected#

• The two named individuals, Arnel Bélizaire and Charles Saint-Rémy.
• Financial institutions, businesses and people in Canada who must block dealings and monitor for these names.
• Canadians and Canadian entities outside Canada who deal internationally and must avoid transactions with the listed people.
• Potentially Haitian elites and networks that channel money or weapons to gangs — the regulations target people believed to support those networks.
• It is unclear whether any ordinary Canadians or small businesses will notice direct effects; the government says the impact on businesses is expected to be minor.

Why it matters#

• These measures aim to cut off financial support and other resources to people believed to be enabling violent gangs in Haiti. That is intended to reduce violence and pressure those individuals to change behaviour.
• For everyday people, the most visible effects are on banks and businesses that must screen and block transactions tied to the listed names.
• The listing also means the named individuals cannot enter Canada.
• The government says the sanctions are targeted (not broad trade measures) and are meant to limit harm to the wider Haitian population while pressing those accused of corruption and supporting gangs.