Tory bill would extend sanctions to target relatives of human rights abusers

By Canadian Press on September 16, 2025.

OTTAWA — Conservative MP James Bezan is calling on Ottawa to reform its sanctions regime to target immediate family members of human rights abusers and tackle transnational repression.

The Manitoba MP has tabled a private member’s bill that would direct law enforcement to help the government draft sanctions and require that ministers respond to parliamentary requests for sanctions.

Bill C-219, which has the support of Liberal MP John McKay, would also bar immediate relatives of human rights abusers from travel, study and financial holdings in Canada.

It would rebrand the sanctions law to cite the name of Russian whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Moscow prison after accusing officials of fraud.

The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights says the bill could address concerns about countries like Iran, Russia and China conducting foreign political interference operations targeting diaspora populations in Canada.

The legislation comes after an internal Global Affairs Canada review concluded that Ottawa runs a confusing sanctions regime that lacks resources.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2025.

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press