Throughout the month of March, the Government of Canada continued to vigorously pursue its sanctions designations under the country-specific sanctions enacted pursuant to Canada’s Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA). The Government announced further designations amending theSpecial Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, the Special Economic Measures (Sudan) Regulations (Sudan Regulations), the Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations (Myanmar Regulations), the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations (Iran Regulations), the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations (Haiti Regulations) and the Special…

On February 24, 2025, the Government of Canada announced further amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (“the Russia Regulations”). These amendments list an additional 44 entities and 32 individuals, both Russian and non-Russian, in Schedule 1 of the Russia Regulations. The designated entities and individuals include those who support Russia’s military-industrial complex, facilitate the transport of military equipment within Russia, or are associated with the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children…

On February 14, 2025, the Government of Canada announced further amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (“the Russia Regulations”), adding two non-Russian entities to Schedule 1. In this significant move, Canada targeted Volga-Dnepr Airlines (Ireland) Limited, an Irish entity, and Volga-Dnepr Logistics B.V., a Dutch entity. This marks the first application of the 2023 amendments to the Special Economic Measures Act (“SEMA”), which expanded the government’s authority, permitting it to impose “secondary sanctions”.…

On January 27, 2025, the Government of Canada announced further amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Belarus) Regulations (“the Regulations”). These amendments list an additional 10 individuals and 12 entities in Schedule I of the Regulations. These sanctions were announced in coordination with the United Kingdom and include three Belarusian state organizations that are stated to have been involved in human rights violations and nine entities that are stated to be part of the Belarusian…