Syria Removed from Terrorism State List

Summary#

This is the Order Amending the Order Establishing a List of Foreign State Supporters of Terrorism that removes the Syrian Arab Republic from Canada’s list of states considered to have supported terrorism. The change takes effect on the day it was registered: December 4, 2025.

What it does#

• Removes Syria from the schedule to the Order Establishing a List of Foreign State Supporters of Terrorism.
• Restores Syria’s general state immunity in Canadian courts for claims about state support of terrorism.
• Means new lawsuits against Syria in Canada for alleged state support of terrorism (dating back to January 1, 1985, under the relevant law) can no longer be started.
• Does not affect claims that are already before Canadian courts at the time the order took effect.
• Ends the special power that allowed seizure of otherwise-immune property in Canada of a state while it was on the list (military and cultural property, and diplomatic/consular property, remained protected even while listed).

Who's affected#

• People who have not yet sued but say they lost money or were harmed by terrorist acts and who have a substantial connection to Canada — they would no longer be able to start new legal actions against Syria in Canadian courts for those harms.
• The government of Syria, which will no longer face new suits in Canada under this specific regime.
• Lawyers, courts, and potential claimants dealing with past or ongoing cases involving Syria; existing cases in court continue.
• It is unclear from the notice whether any particular number of potential claimants exist or how many cases might have been planned.

Why it matters#

• For victims, this removes a legal path to sue Syria in Canada for alleged state support of terrorism. That could limit options for compensation or legal redress.
• For diplomats and policy-makers, delisting signals a change in how Canada assesses a foreign government’s actions. The regulatory statement says the decision followed a review by the Minister of Foreign Affairs (in consultation with the Minister of Public Safety) and was prompted by political changes in Syria described in the notice.
• The government says there are no expected direct costs to businesses or the federal budget from this change.
• The notice also notes possible indirect effects on Canada’s ability to engage diplomatically on human rights issues in Syria, depending on how Canada chooses to use the change.