Canada has imposed sanctions on three more influential members of the Haitian private sector “under the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations in response to significant acts of corruption that are fueling the country’s ongoing security, political and humanitarian crisis”, announced Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly on Thursday September 21.
The individuals in question are businessmen Marc Antoine Acra, Carl Braun and Jean-Marie Vorbe. These individuals will be inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and will be subject to a general prohibition on transactions, according to a press release published on the Canadian Global Affairs website.
Canada has reason to believe that these individuals are fuelling violence and instability in Haiti by engaging in corruption and other criminal acts, and by enabling armed gangs to carry out illegal activities that terrorize the population and threaten peace and security in Haiti, the statement said, reiterating Ottawa’s support for all efforts to respond to Haiti’s ongoing political, security and humanitarian crisis, in order to meet the urgent needs of the Haitian people.
“Canada remains in solidarity with Haiti and its people, and believes that sanctions are an important tool in the multi-dimensional approach to addressing the political situation in Haiti. We continue to urge the international community to join Canada in putting pressure on those who contribute directly to the violence and instability in Haiti,” said Minister Mélanie Joly.
Since November 2022, the Canadian government has imposed sanctions against 28 Haitians under the Special Economic Measures Act.
On November 10, 2022, Canada incorporated into Canadian law, under the United Nations Act, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2653 providing for sanctions in response to the unacceptable conduct of armed criminal gangs in Haiti. The sanctions imposed a ban on operations against a Haitian gang leader.
On September 18, Justin Trudeau’s government announced the appointment of André François Giroux as Canada’s new ambassador to Haiti, replacing Sébastien Carrière.
