| Short Title: | Special Economic Measures Act |
| Legislature: | Parliament of Canada |
| Long Title: | An Act to provide for the imposition of special economic measures |
| Citation: | Special Economic Measures Act (S.C. 1992, c. 17), last amended on 2023-06-22[1] |
| Enacted By: | 33rd Canadian Parliament |
| Date Assented: | 1992 |
The Special Economic Measures Act (S.C. 1992, c. 17) is a statute of the Parliament of Canada,[2] passed in 1992 under the second Mulroney ministry in the 34th Canadian Parliament. The Government of Canada department responsible for enforcing the Act is the Minister of Foreign Affairs.[3]
In 2011 the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations (SOR/2011-114) were passed.[4]
In 2014 an Iranian plaintiff tried to have the Supreme Court of British Columbia overturn the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations.[5] They had been adopted in 2010, on the recommendation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1737.[6]
The Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations (SOR/2014-60) and the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, (SOR/2014-58) were passed, to the frustration of one Mr Portnov, who had formerly been employed in the Ukrainian administration headed by Viktor Yanukovych.[7]
Upper-level management of the Iranian nuclear programme have repeatedly tried to infiltrate Canada and the SEMA has been used to stop them.[8]
In September 2017 the Special Economic Measures (Venezuela) Regulations (SOR/2017-204) were passed.[9]
On 1 February 2022 rumours of a Russian invasion were thick and a helpful list of Canadian sanctions tools was provided by consultant attorneys. There were then three pieces of secondary legislation that collectively formed the "Sanctions Regime",[10] under the SEMA:
In 2022, Roman Abramovich had some of his assets seized under this Act.[2]