Senator Omidvar has tabled Bill S-278, An Act to amend the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA – disposal of foreign state assets) in the Senate.
The bill would amend SEMA to allow for a legal pathway to seize and repurpose state assets, including central bank reserves, of perpetrators that breach international peace and security and redirect them to the victims that have had their lives shattered. The bill would allow the Governor in Council to dispose of a foreign state’s assets seized under the Act if the seizure occurred without a judicial order.
A strong majority of Canadians support Canada seizing the Canadian assets of foreign states, including Russia and Iran, who are violating human rights and using these assets to help victims, according to a new public opinion poll commissioned by Senator Ratna Omidvar and Senator Donna Dasko .
The unnecessary, illegal and brutal war that Russia has waged on Ukraine has destroyed the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands. If Canada and other western states want to face fewer crises like that in Ukraine, they should send the unmistakable message to the international community that Russia’s conduct will not be tolerated and they must be held to account by helping the victims of their illegal war.
Bill S-278 would use domestic law in accordance with international law mechanisms as a deterrent. It upholds the rule of law in the international legal order.
Monitor the bill’s progress through Parliament
To show your support for this legislation, please share some of the resources and updates posted below on social media using the hashtags #MakeThemPay and #S278.
Updates and Resources on the Frozen Assets Repurposing Act
Bill C-57 – Sending a Powerful Message of Solidarity and Commitment to Standing by Ukraine
Senator Omidvar spoke to Bill C-57, Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Bill, 2023.
When Will the Light-Armoured Vehicles Canada Promised Arrive in Ukraine?
Senator Omidvar asked Senator Gold when the light-armoured vehicles will arrive in Ukraine and what the government is doing to go after frozen Russian assets.
Seizing Russian State Assets to Rebuild Ukraine: Will it Prolong the War, or End it?
In this excerpt from The Conversation, Jon Unruh and Geoffrey Goodell discuss Senator Omidvar’s proposal to seize Russian state assets and transfer them to Ukraine.
We Must Hurry to Help Ukraine with Russian Assets – an Interview with a Canadian Senator
In this interview with Tabula, Senator Omidvar discusses the bill she tabled to confiscate Russian state assets and transfer them to Ukraine.
United for Justice: Forfeiting Russia’s Assets through an International Compensation Mechanism
Senator Omidvar participated in the 2023 United for Justice Conference, which convened global leaders in the justice and human rights sectors to pursue accountability for Russian war crimes.
Interview: Bill S-278 Will Freeze and Repurpose Russian State Assets to Help Ukraine
Ukrainian journalist Andriy Kulykov asked Senator Omidvar about her bill, which aims to freeze and repurpose Russian state assets in Canada.
The Schrödinger’s Cat of Russian Foreign Reserves
This excerpt from the Financial Times discusses seizing Russian assets and Senator Omidvar’s Bill S-278.
Canada Must Seize Russian State Assets to Help Rebuild Ukraine
In this Globe and Mail op-ed, Bill Browder and Senator Omidvar discuss Bill S-278.
News Release: Majority of Canadians Support Seizing the Canadian-Held Assets of of Russia and Iran to Assist Victims, Poll Shows
The poll was commissioned jointly by independent senators Donna Dasko and Ratna Omidvar.
Senator Omidvar -Bill S-278 Amends SEMA to Allow for a Legal Mechanism to Seize and Repurpose the State Assets of Perpetrators who Breach International Peace and Security
Senator Omidvar moved second reading of Bill S-278, An Act to amend the Special Economic Measures Act (disposal of foreign state assets).
More from the World Refugee Council
Climate Change Will Produce a Knock-On Effect in Creating Mass Displacement
Senator Omidvar spoke to Senator Coyle’s inquiry on the importance of finding solutions to transition Canada’s society, economy and resource use in pursuit of a fair, prosperous, sustainable and peaceful net-zero emissions future.
We Can Help Iranian Women and Girls by Seizing the Assets of Corrupt Officials
In an op-ed in the Globe and Mail, Senator Omidvar urges the government to go beyond freezing the assets of sanctioned Iranian officials by confiscating and redirecting them to the victims of the regime.
Speech on Bill S-217: The Frozen Assets Repurposing Act
Senator Omidvar describes how her bill would repurpose the frozen assets of those who’ve committed grave human rights abuses to help their victims.