Canada adds Myanmar officials and entities to sanctions

Summary#

These final regulations amend the Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations to add names to Canada’s Myanmar sanctions list. They add 16 people and 10 companies or state-owned enterprises, and they were registered on May 14, 2021 and published in the Canada Gazette on May 26, 2021.

What it does#

• Adds 10 entities to Part 1 of the schedule (examples include Myanma Gems Enterprise (MGE), Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE) and Cancri (Gems and Jewellery)).
• Adds 16 individuals to Part 2 of the schedule. The list includes senior military or military-appointed officials and some family members of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
• Updates the sanctions that are already set out in the Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations, namely bans on:
  • dealing with the property of listed persons,
  • entering into or helping with transactions involving that property,
  • providing financial or related services to listed persons,
  • supplying goods to listed persons.
• Confirms the rules came into force when registered (on May 14, 2021) and applied before Gazette publication.
• Notes enforcement and penalties: enforcement is handled by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency, and penalties can include a fine of up to $25,000, imprisonment for up to one year (summary conviction) or up to five years (indictable conviction).

Who's affected#

• The specific individuals and companies named in the schedules — they face asset freezes and trade restrictions.
• Canadian banks and financial institutions, which must screen for and block dealings involving the listed names.
• Canadian businesses and service providers that might otherwise do business with Myanmar entities; they may need extra checks and could face limits on transactions.
• The federal agencies that enforce sanctions, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency.
• Humanitarian or other groups working in Myanmar may be indirectly affected; the regulations include exemptions and permit options to allow legitimate humanitarian activities.

Why it matters#

• These changes expand Canada’s targeted sanctions against people and firms linked to the Myanmar military regime after the February 1, 2021 coup.
• For the listed people and companies it means their assets and trade links with Canada are cut off.
• For Canadians and Canadian businesses it raises compliance obligations: banks and companies must avoid blocked transactions and may need to strengthen checks on Myanmar-related activity.
• For the wider public, it signals Canada’s political stance and is intended to increase pressure on the Myanmar military to stop violent repression and restore democratic governance.