Two Added to Haiti Sanctions List

Summary#

These final regulations — Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations — add two people to Canada’s Haiti sanctions list. The measures prohibit most dealings with those people and make them inadmissible to Canada. They took effect on June 13, 2023 and were published in the Canada Gazette on July 5, 2023.

What it does#

• Adds Gracia Delva (born on June 9, 1972) and Prophane Victor to Part 2 of the schedule to the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations.
• Prohibits people and businesses in Canada, and Canadians abroad, from dealing in the property of, entering into transactions with, or providing financial or related services to the listed individuals.
• Renders the listed individuals inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
• The listed names will be placed on the Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List so financial institutions and others can check them.
• The rules were applied before publication and came into force on the day they were registered (June 13, 2023).
• Enforcement can lead to a fine of up to $25,000 or imprisonment of up to 1 year on summary conviction, or imprisonment of up to 5 years on conviction on indictment.

Who's affected#

• The main individuals affected are Gracia Delva and Prophane Victor, who are now listed under the Haiti sanctions.
• Canadians and Canadian businesses, including banks and other financial institutions, must refuse dealings that would contravene the sanctions and update compliance checks.
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency have enforcement roles under these measures.
• It is unlikely that most small Canadian businesses or the general Canadian public will be directly affected, according to the government’s analysis.

Why it matters#

• These are targeted measures meant to cut off financial support and services to people believed to be protecting or enabling criminal gangs in Haiti.
• Making the individuals inadmissible to Canada and blocking financial dealings aims to pressure them to stop supporting violence and corruption.
• The change is part of a broader international effort to limit the flow of funds and weapons to gangs and to support efforts to restore security and protect vulnerable people in Haiti.