C-281International Human Rights Act
An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on June 13, 2022
- Status
- In committee in the Senate since May 29, 2024
What it does
Requires annual human rights reporting, forces responses to parliamentary sanctions recommendations, limits some broadcasting licences, and tightens rules on cluster munitions investments.
What it does
- Requires the foreign affairs minister to publish a yearly report on Canada’s work to advance human rights abroad, including details on prisoners of conscience, contact with their families, and consultations with civil society.
- Requires the minister to respond when a Senate or House committee recommends sanctions under the Sergei Magnitsky Law, saying whether the order or regulation was made and giving reasons, then tabling and posting the response.
- Bars new or renewed broadcasting licences for undertakings that could be significantly influenced by a foreign national or entity Parliament has recognised as having committed genocide, or that is sanctioned under the Magnitsky law or the Special Economic Measures Act.
- Adds a ban on investing in an entity that has broken certain cluster munitions rules, and expands related offence rules, with a one-year transition for existing interests and loans.
Who it affects
- Foreign Affairs Minister
- Prisoners of conscience
- Parliamentary committees
- Broadcasters
- Broadcasting undertakings
- Investors and lenders
Background
It amends the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Sergei Magnitsky Law, the Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Current stage. Now here
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-281, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act
Vote 355,
Passed
322 yeato0 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 355 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 148 0 8 Conservative Yea 114 0 1 Bloc Yea 31 0 1 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 3 0 0 Total 322 0 Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-281, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act
Vote 341,
Passed
324 yeato0 nay
Party breakdown for vote 341 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 149 0 7 Conservative Yea 113 0 2 Bloc Yea 32 0 0 NDP Yea 25 0 0 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 3 0 0 Total 324 0 Bill C-281, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act (report stage amendment)
Vote 340,
Passed
325 yeato0 nay
Party breakdown for vote 340 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 150 0 6 Conservative Yea 114 0 1 Bloc Yea 32 0 0 NDP Yea 25 0 0 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 2 0 1 Total 325 0 2nd reading of Bill C-281, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act
Vote 217,
Passed
313 yeato0 nay · 12 paired
Party breakdown for vote 217 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 146 0 12 Conservative Yea 112 0 6 Bloc Yea 30 0 2 NDP Yea 22 0 3 Green Yea 1 0 1 Independent Yea 2 0 0 Total 313 0
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalSherry Romanado· October 7, 2022
“Therefore, I welcome the opportunity to elaborate on Canada's active engagement in advancing international human rights efforts globally, including with regard to human rights issues raised in Bill C-281, which was introduced in the House of Commons by the member for Northumberland—Peterborough South.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativePhilip Lawrence· June 13, 2022
“Moved for leave to introduce Bill C-281, an act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocChristine Normandin· October 7, 2022
“This bill has a relatively long, but rather clear title and, as the member mentioned, it is a good exercise in diction. It is the act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, also known as the Sergei Magnitsky Law, the Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPLori Idlout· October 7, 2022
“I thank my constituents from Nunavut for trusting in me to represent their voice on such important matters as Bill C-281. I especially appreciate this opportunity, as I learned more about our laws in this bill and where our work as parliamentarians can make a difference for human rights domestically and internationally.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At consideration in committee in the Senate. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.