Press Release: Senator Ratna Omidvar Welcomes the Inclusion of Seizing and Repurposing Frozen Assets of Corrupt Officials in the Budget Implementation Act
Ottawa April 27, 2022 – Senator Ratna Omidvar is pleased that the Government of Canada has included the essence of her Bill S-217, the Frozen Assets Repurposing Act, in the Budget Implementation Act (BIA). The measures would allow Canada to seize the frozen assets of foreign officials whose misrule has breached international peace and security, created mass forced displacement and other humanitarian crises, and to use the proceeds to help those who have been victimized.
“The brutality of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has called for swift and severe action by the world. These measures are a crucial step to further hold dictators, human rights abusers and kleptocrats accountable for their actions. Parliamentarians need to act swiftly by passing these measures and applying it to the dire situation in Ukraine,” said Senator Omidvar.
The concept of seizing and repurposing frozen assets was developed by the World Refugee and Migration Council and cited in their 2019 seminal report on transforming the global refugee system. Comprising of thought leaders, practitioners and innovators from around the world, and supported by a research advisory network, the Council seeks to offer bold strategic thinking about how the international community can comprehensively respond to refugees based on the principles of international cooperation and responsibility sharing.
While the war in Ukraine is pertinent, the application of these measures is not specific to only one country. Millions of displaced people have poured into Bangladesh from Myanmar, into Uganda from South Sudan, and into Colombia from Venezuela. At the crux of these mass movements of displacement are corrupt leaders: leaders of the Tatmadaw in Myanmar are included on the list of individuals sanctioned by Canada, as are the South Sudanese warlords, as well as Venezuelan President Maduro.
“For far too long corrupt foreign officials have acted with impunity. Calling them out is not enough. It is time to make them pay by seizing and repurposing their frozen assets,” said Senator Omidvar.
Budget Implementation Act – https://fin.canada.ca/drleg-apl/2022/nwmm-amvm-0422-bil.pdf (see page 399 for the seizing and repurposing of frozen assets)
Senator Ratna Omidvar’s speech on Bill S-217 at the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee https://sencanada.ca/en/Content/Sen/Committee/441/AEFA/55448-E
Senator Ratna Omidvar’s 2nd reading speech on Bill S-217, http://www.ratnaomidvar.ca/speech-on-bill-s217-the-frozen-assets-repurposing-act/
For more information visit or contact:
Paul Faucette
Director of Parliamentary Affairs, The Honourable Ratna Omidvar