Vol. 148, No. 17 — August 13, 2014

Registration

SOR/2014-183 July 24, 2014

SPECIAL ECONOMIC MEASURES ACT

Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations

P.C. 2014-884 July 24, 2014

Whereas the Governor in Council is of the opinion that the situation in Ukraine constitutes a grave breach of international peace and security that has resulted or is likely to result in a serious international crisis;

Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, pursuant to subsections 4(1) to (3) of the Special Economic Measures Act (see footnote a), makes the annexed Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations.

REGULATIONS AMENDING THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC MEASURES (UKRAINE) REGULATIONS

AMENDMENTS

1. Part 1 of the schedule to the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations (see footnote 1) is amended by adding the following after item 41:

2. Part 2 of the schedule to the Regulations is amended by adding the following after item 2:

APPLICATION PRIOR TO PUBLICATION

3. For the purpose of paragraph 11(2)(a) of the Statutory Instruments Act, these Regulations apply before they are published in the Canada Gazette.

COMING INTO FORCE

4. These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)

Issues

Pro-Russian separatists continue to destabilize eastern Ukraine and facilitate Russian military action against the Ukrainian government.

Background

Acting in coordination with the United States and the European Union, the Governor in Council has found that the situation in Ukraine constitutes a grave breach of international peace and security that has resulted or is likely to result in a serious international crisis. Therefore, the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations were approved on March 17, 2014. Further amendments to these Regulations were made on March 19, 2014, April 12, 2014, May 12, 2014, June 21, 2014, and July 11, 2014.

At the G7 Summit in Brussels in June 2014, leaders of the G7 countries issued a declaration condemning the Russian Federation’s continuing violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Leaders reaffirmed Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, and that actions to destabilize eastern Ukraine are unacceptable and must stop. Leaders also called on the Russian Federation to meet the commitments it made in the Geneva Joint Statement of April 17, 2014, and cooperate with the government of Ukraine as it implements its plans for promoting peace, unity and reform. Canada, along with G7 nations, has indicated readiness to intensify targeted sanctions and to implement significant additional measures to impose further costs on Russia should events so require.

In Berlin on July 2, 2014, the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia issued a joint declaration stressing the need for a sustainable ceasefire to be monitored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), agreeing to “use their influence on the concerned parties” to make such a ceasefire happen, calling for continued talks between Kyiv and Russian-backed insurgents, welcoming Russia’s readiness to grant Ukrainian border guards access to Russian territory in order to participate in the control of border crossings, and calling for the deployment of OSCE monitors to border checkpoints while a ceasefire is in place.

Despite these international commitments and Ukraine’s military efforts, including the successful recapturing of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, the insurgency has intensified in Donetsk and Luhansk regions as government forces stepped up efforts to disrupt the actions of illegal separatist groups, and reclaim more territory. Throughout July 2014, deadly clashes between Ukrainian security forces and pro-Russian separatists continued in eastern Ukraine, including an increasing number of incidents involving hostage taking. According to recent sources, approximately 150 Ukrainians are currently being held hostage, the majority of whom are civilians.

Armed militia groups and insurgents currently control large parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and are basing their operations in numerous government and public buildings. There are daily reports of heavy fighting and civilian casualties. Separatists have reportedly shot down five Ukrainian helicopters and three transport planes (the most recent attack on July 14, 2014), and damaged another five helicopters.

Reports also indicate that over 150 members of the Ukrainian security forces have died in the conflict to date, 250 members have been captured, and approximately 300 have been wounded. In terms of civilian casualties, Ukrainian sources indicate that close to 500 civilians have been killed in the east, and up to 1 500 civilians have been wounded.

Objectives

The proposed Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations (the Regulations) add eight individuals and two entities to the schedule.

Description

The proposed Regulations add eight individuals and two entities to the list of designated persons under the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations.

Any person in Canada and any Canadian outside Canada are prohibited from

Exceptions to the above-noted prohibitions are available for the following:

“One-for-One” Rule

The “One-for-One” Rule applies to this proposal, as there are minimal administrative costs to business, because of the reporting requirement. However, the administrative burden associated with these Regulations is carved out from the “One-for-One” Rule, as they address unique, exceptional circumstances.

Small business lens

The small business lens does not apply to this proposal, as there are no costs (or insignificant costs) on small business and small businesses would not be disproportionately affected.

Consultation

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada drafted the Regulations in consultation with the Department of Justice and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Rationale

The measures contained in the Regulations demonstrate Canada’s concern about the continuing violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Implementation, enforcement and service standards

Canada’s sanctions regulations are enforced by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency. In accordance with section 8 of the Special Economic Measures Act, every person who wilfully contravenes these Regulations is liable upon summary conviction to a fine of not more than $25,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year or to both, or upon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years.

Contact

Jennifer May
Director
East/Southeast Europe Bilateral and Commercial Relations
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
Telephone: 343-203-3603
Fax: 613-995-1277
Email: Jennifer.May@international.gc.ca