Support Senate's Magnitsky anti-corruption bill: Senator Frum
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The Senate’s proposed Magnitsky Law would strengthen Canada’s support for the rule of law by holding foreign nations to account for gross violations of human rights.
Senate Public Bill S-226 — introduced by my colleague Senator Raynell Andreychuk — is named for Sergei Magnitsky, the Moscow lawyer who uncovered a $230-million tax fraud scheme perpetrated by Russian officials against a foreign-owned investment fund, Hermitage Capital.
For the crime of exposing corruption deep within the government and law enforcement, Magnitsky was arrested and held in prison for 358 days before dying from his injuries, the result of unspeakably cruel physical torture.
It was recently revealed that as much as $14 million of the $230-million worth of illicit proceeds that were exposed by Magnitsky were transferred to bank accounts here in Canada.
There is no question that in this case Canada has served as a haven for illicit, criminal, blood-soaked money. If left uncorrected, this state of affairs undermines our standing as a nation dedicated to honouring and upholding human rights.
The Magnitsky case highlights the urgent need for the legislation that is now before the Senate.
Under the provisions of Bill S-226, the bank accounts and assets of designated human rights abusers would be frozen and visas to Canada would be denied. The bill mirrors legislation passed by the United States Congress, and signed into law by U.S. President Barack Obama in 2012.
I welcome the multi-partisan support that this bill has received in the Senate and I congratulate Senator Andreychuk, the chair of the Senate’s foreign affairs committee, for her commitment to this issue — now and over many years.
She has worked diligently with Bill Browder, the American-British businessman who has made the cause of justice for Magnitsky his life’s mission. I also appreciated the strong support of the deputy chair of the Senate’s foreign affairs committee, Senator Percy Downe.
I must also recognize the efforts of my friend and former parliamentary colleague, the Honourable Irwin Cotler. Canada owes a debt to Mr. Cotler for keeping this cause at the forefront of our national political conversation.
Allow me to quote Mr. Cotler from a recent Globe and Mail interview about the pressing need for this legislation:
“We owe it to Sergei Magnitsky, and those associated with him — the human-rights defenders — to hold Russia accountable and at the very least to prevent them from laundering their proceeds abroad or from entering Canada with impunity.”
Mr. Cotler is not alone in his support for the passage of this legislation. The former interim leader of the Liberal Party, the Honorable Bob Rae stated in the same Globe and Mail article:
“Our government, like other governments, needs the ability to deal with acts of corruption, the amassing of huge wealth as a result and the use of Canada as a money-laundering haven, because other countries are putting up walls and barriers.”
I quote these two men to make the point that this legislation has support from those of all political stripes.
Support from the current Liberal government, however, is sadly lacking.
Despite a pledge made by the Liberals during the last election, Canada’s foreign affairs minister has been opposed to Magnitsky legislation. He believes it is more important to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with Russia than to impose meaningful penalties on gross violators of human rights.
I confess I have trouble understanding the minister’s position.
The Magnitsky Law does not contemplate blanket sanctions against the entire Russian regime — it targets specific, criminally-responsible individuals.
Furthermore, when negotiating relationships with unsavoury and undemocratic regimes, human rights must always be at the forefront of consideration.
It is my hope that by passing this bill here in the Senate, we can send a strong and urgent message to the Liberal government.
In the words of Senator Andreychuk: “Canada must continue to be a voice for justice, rule of law and human rights adherence.”
I hope all senators will see fit to join me in giving their full support to Bill S-226.
Note to readers: The Honourable Linda Frum retired from the Senate of Canada in August 2021. Learn more about her work in Parliament.
The Senate’s proposed Magnitsky Law would strengthen Canada’s support for the rule of law by holding foreign nations to account for gross violations of human rights.
Senate Public Bill S-226 — introduced by my colleague Senator Raynell Andreychuk — is named for Sergei Magnitsky, the Moscow lawyer who uncovered a $230-million tax fraud scheme perpetrated by Russian officials against a foreign-owned investment fund, Hermitage Capital.
For the crime of exposing corruption deep within the government and law enforcement, Magnitsky was arrested and held in prison for 358 days before dying from his injuries, the result of unspeakably cruel physical torture.
It was recently revealed that as much as $14 million of the $230-million worth of illicit proceeds that were exposed by Magnitsky were transferred to bank accounts here in Canada.
There is no question that in this case Canada has served as a haven for illicit, criminal, blood-soaked money. If left uncorrected, this state of affairs undermines our standing as a nation dedicated to honouring and upholding human rights.
The Magnitsky case highlights the urgent need for the legislation that is now before the Senate.
Under the provisions of Bill S-226, the bank accounts and assets of designated human rights abusers would be frozen and visas to Canada would be denied. The bill mirrors legislation passed by the United States Congress, and signed into law by U.S. President Barack Obama in 2012.
I welcome the multi-partisan support that this bill has received in the Senate and I congratulate Senator Andreychuk, the chair of the Senate’s foreign affairs committee, for her commitment to this issue — now and over many years.
She has worked diligently with Bill Browder, the American-British businessman who has made the cause of justice for Magnitsky his life’s mission. I also appreciated the strong support of the deputy chair of the Senate’s foreign affairs committee, Senator Percy Downe.
I must also recognize the efforts of my friend and former parliamentary colleague, the Honourable Irwin Cotler. Canada owes a debt to Mr. Cotler for keeping this cause at the forefront of our national political conversation.
Allow me to quote Mr. Cotler from a recent Globe and Mail interview about the pressing need for this legislation:
“We owe it to Sergei Magnitsky, and those associated with him — the human-rights defenders — to hold Russia accountable and at the very least to prevent them from laundering their proceeds abroad or from entering Canada with impunity.”
Mr. Cotler is not alone in his support for the passage of this legislation. The former interim leader of the Liberal Party, the Honorable Bob Rae stated in the same Globe and Mail article:
“Our government, like other governments, needs the ability to deal with acts of corruption, the amassing of huge wealth as a result and the use of Canada as a money-laundering haven, because other countries are putting up walls and barriers.”
I quote these two men to make the point that this legislation has support from those of all political stripes.
Support from the current Liberal government, however, is sadly lacking.
Despite a pledge made by the Liberals during the last election, Canada’s foreign affairs minister has been opposed to Magnitsky legislation. He believes it is more important to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with Russia than to impose meaningful penalties on gross violators of human rights.
I confess I have trouble understanding the minister’s position.
The Magnitsky Law does not contemplate blanket sanctions against the entire Russian regime — it targets specific, criminally-responsible individuals.
Furthermore, when negotiating relationships with unsavoury and undemocratic regimes, human rights must always be at the forefront of consideration.
It is my hope that by passing this bill here in the Senate, we can send a strong and urgent message to the Liberal government.
In the words of Senator Andreychuk: “Canada must continue to be a voice for justice, rule of law and human rights adherence.”
I hope all senators will see fit to join me in giving their full support to Bill S-226.
Note to readers: The Honourable Linda Frum retired from the Senate of Canada in August 2021. Learn more about her work in Parliament.