This enactment amends the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to impose certain reporting requirements on the Minister of Foreign Affairs in relation to international human rights. It also amends the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) to require the Minister of Foreign Affairs to respond within 40 days to a report submitted by a parliamentary committee that recommends that sanctions be imposed under that Act against a foreign national.

In addition, this enactment amends the Broadcasting Act to prohibit the issue, amendment or renewal of a licence in relation to a broadcasting undertaking that is vulnerable to being influenced by a foreign national or entity that has committed acts or omissions that the Senate or the House of Commons has recognized as genocide or that is subject to sanctions under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) or under the Special Economic Measures Act.‍

Finally, it amends the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act to prohibit a person from investing in an entity that has contravened certain provisions of the Act.

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Human rights

(4) In exercising his or her powers, duties and functions under this Act in respect of the conduct of the external affairs of Canada, the Minister is to publish, at least once in every calendar year,

• (a) a report that outlines the measures that the Minister has taken to advance human rights internationally as part of Canada’s foreign policy; and

• (b) a list that sets out the names and circumstances of the prisoners of conscience detained worldwide for whose release the Government of Canada is actively working.

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Response to recommendation of committee

5.‍1 (1) If a motion adopted by a committee of the Senate, of the House of Commons or of both Houses of Parliament that is designated or established by the Senate or the House of Commons, or by both Houses of Parliament, as the case may be, for the purpose of considering matters relating to foreign affairs recommends that an order or regulation be considered or made under section 4 in relation to a foreign national, the Minister must prepare a response advising the committee whether or not the order or regulation is to be made and setting out the reasons for the decision.

Tabling of response

(2) The response must be tabled in the Senate or the House of Commons or in both Houses of Parliament, as the case may be, within 40 days after the adoption of the motion or within any time limit specified by the committee and must be posted in a prominent location on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development on the day after it is tabled.

Prorogation or dissolution

(3) If Parliament is prorogued or dissolved before the response is tabled, the Minister must post the response in a prominent location on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development within the time limit referred to in subsection (2) regarding the tabling of the response. The response must be tabled as soon as feasible after the commencement of the next session of Parliament.

Restriction — broadcasting undertakings subject to influence

(1.‍1) No licence shall be issued, amended or renewed under this Part in relation to a broadcasting undertaking, including one that distributes foreign programming, that is vulnerable to being influenced by a foreign national or entity

• (a) that has committed acts or omissions that the Senate or the House of Commons has recognized as genocide; or

• (b) that is the subject of an order or regulation made under section 4 of the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) or section 4 of the Special Economic Measures Act.

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Purpose

4 The purpose of this Act is to implement Canada’s commitments under the Convention Insertion start and to restrict investments in relation to cluster munitions, explosive submunitions and explosive bomblets Insertion end .

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  (d.‍1) directly or indirectly, individually or as a shareholder or partner or otherwise, acquire or have any pecuniary interest in — or make or guarantee a loan to — a person, knowing that the person has committed, or has aided or abetted in the commission of, any act referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d);

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• (e) attempt to commit any act referred to in paragraphs (a) to Insertion start (d.‍1) Insertion end ;

• (f) aid, abet or counsel another person to commit any act referred to in paragraphs (a) to Insertion start (d.‍1) Insertion end ;

• (g) conspire with another person to commit any act referred to in paragraphs (a) to Insertion start (d.‍1) Insertion end ; or

• (h) receive, comfort or assist another person, knowing that the person has committed, or has aided or abetted in the commission of, any act referred to in paragraphs (a) to Insertion start (d.‍1) Insertion end , for the purpose of enabling the person to escape.

• (a) aiding, abetting or counselling another person to commit any act referred to in paragraphs 6(a) to Insertion start (d.‍1) Insertion end , if it would not be an offence for that other person to commit that act;

• (b) conspiring with another person to commit any act referred to in paragraphs 6(a) to Insertion start (d.‍1) Insertion end , if it would not be an offence for that other person to commit that act; or

• (c) receiving, comforting or assisting another person, knowing that that other person has committed, or has aided or abetted in the commission of, any act referred to in paragraphs 6(a) to Insertion start (d.‍1) Insertion end , for the purpose of enabling that other person to escape, if it was not an offence for that other person to commit that act.