Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations: SOR/2026-17
Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 160, Number 4
Registration
SOR/2026-17 February 5, 2026
SPECIAL ECONOMIC MEASURES ACT
P.C. 2026-107 February 5, 2026
Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, makes the annexed Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations under paragraph 4(1)(a)footnote a of the Special Economic Measures Actfootnote b.
Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations
Amendment
1 Item 522 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations footnote 1 is repealed.
Coming into Force
2 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
The Minister of Foreign Affairs has received a delisting application by Didier Casimiro that provides reasonable grounds to recommend the removal of one individual from Schedule 1 of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (the Russia Regulations). To maintain the integrity and accuracy of Canada’s sanctions regime, the Russia Regulations must be amended to remove individuals when there are reasonable grounds to do so.
Background
Situation in Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated an unprovoked full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, launching attacks on many cities. Russia continues to wage a war of aggression against Ukraine and to commit atrocities against Ukrainians.
Experts, including from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Moscow Mechanism fact-finding missions, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and the United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, have concluded that Russia is committing serious human rights violations, war crimes, possible crimes against humanity, and conflict-related sexual violence.
International response
The coalition of countries supporting Ukraine includes, but is not limited to, the G7 and European countries. This group is working to support Ukraine across a number of areas, including by contributing to energy security, nuclear safety, food security, humanitarian assistance, combatting Russian disinformation, imposing sanctions and economic measures, asset seizure and forfeiture, military assistance, ensuring accountability and fostering socio-economic recovery and reconstruction.
Canada’s response
Following Russia’s illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea in March 2014, the Government of Canada, in tandem with partners and allies, enacted sanctions through the regulations under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA). These sanctions impose dealings prohibitions (an effective asset freeze) on listed individuals and entities supporting or enabling Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty. Any person in Canada and Canadians outside Canada are prohibited from dealing in the property of, entering into transactions with, providing services to, or otherwise making goods available to persons listed under Schedule 1, 2 or 3 of the Russia Regulations.
Since 2014, in coordination with its partners, Canada has imposed sanctions on over 3 300 individuals and entities in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova, linked to their support of the illegal invasion of Ukraine. This includes sanctions addressing Russian networks in third countries, as well as entities that are supporting Russia in these regions. Canada has also implemented targeted restrictions against Russia and Belarus in financial, trade (goods and services), energy and transport sectors. Canada is part of the Oil Price Cap Coalition, the G7 diamond import ban and ongoing efforts to use the proceeds from Russian sovereign assets to help Ukraine. Canada is steadfast in its commitment to support Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and its efforts toward a just and sustainable peace.
Conditions for lifting sanctions
The duration of Canada’s sanctions in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine is explicitly linked to the peaceful resolution of the conflict and the respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including Crimea and Ukraine’s territorial sea. Canada has continued to update its sanctions regimes against individuals and entities supporting the conflict in Ukraine, and has delisted persons when warranted, in accordance with relevant sanctions policies and legal frameworks. Delisting decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with foreign policy and legal considerations.
Similar approaches to the duration and the lifting of sanctions have been adopted by Canada’s like-minded partners, including Australia, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Sanctions are an important Canadian foreign policy tool to respond to grave breaches of international peace and security, gross and systematic human rights violations or acts of significant corruption. The regulations of the SEMA can change at any time to respond to evolving threats. The delisting recourse process is an integral part of Canada’s robust sanctions framework and supports the fair and transparent application of sanctions. Listed persons may apply to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to have their name removed from Schedule 1, 2 or 3 of the Russia Regulations. Applications may be made on a range of legal, factual, or policy grounds. Applicants provided a detailed description of the relevant circumstances and reasons supporting their application for delisting. Following receipt of an application, the Minister must decide whether there are reasonable grounds to recommend to the Governor in Council that the applicant’s name be removed from the relevant schedule of the Russia Regulations. Information on the delisting application process is available on Global Affairs Canada’s website.
Designation information
On March 4, 2022, pursuant to paragraph 2(g) of the Russia Regulations, Canada listed Didier Casimiro (the individual) in Schedule 1, Part 1, item 522. At the time of his listing, paragraph 2(g) allowed for the listing of a senior official of an entity referred to in paragraphs (e) or (f).
Objective
To safeguard the integrity of Canada’s sanctions regime by delisting individuals and entities when there are reasonable grounds to do so, taking into account the object and purpose of the Russia Regulations and the circumstances of listed persons.
Description
The Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (the amendment) remove Didier Casimiro from Schedule 1 of the Russia Regulations, as there are reasonable grounds to repeal this listing.
Regulatory development
Consultation
Global Affairs Canada regularly engages with other like-minded governments regarding Canada’s approach to sanctions implementation.
With respect to this amendment, public consultation would not have been appropriate due to the sensitive nature of foreign policy considerations. Public consultations could compromise broad foreign policy objectives and confidentiality. Therefore, this amendment was not prepublished in the Canada Gazette, Part I.
Indigenous engagement, consultation and modern treaty obligations
An assessment was undertaken to determine whether the amendment would give rise to modern treaty implications or duty to consult obligations. No implications or obligations were identified.
Instrument choice
Under the SEMA, sanctions are imposed and lifted by regulation. Therefore, regulations are the only available legal instrument for removing the individual from Schedule 1 of the Russia Regulations. No other instruments were considered.
Regulatory analysis
Benefits and costs
As a result of this amendment, restrictions and prohibitions under the Russia Regulations do not apply to this individual.
The individual will no longer be inadmissible to Canada under paragraph 35.1(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Further, persons in Canada and Canadians outside Canada will no longer be prohibited from having business dealings with the individual. This amendment will remove those restrictions providing a theoretical benefit to the individual and any Canadian or Canadian entity that may wish to engage in dealings with the individual that would have otherwise been prohibited.
Canadian financial institutions and enforcement agencies, such as the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), will incur a small cost to update their internal monitoring systems as a result of this amendment.
Small business lens
Analysis under the small business lens concluded that this amendment will not impact Canadian small businesses.
One-for-one rule
The one-for-one rule does not apply, as there is no incremental change in administrative burden on business and no regulatory titles are repealed or introduced.
Regulatory cooperation and alignment
This amendment is not related to a work plan or commitment under a formal regulatory cooperation forum.
International obligations
Compliance with Canada’s international obligations was considered in the development of this amendment. No international law compliance issues have been identified in relation to this amendment.
Effects on the environment
This amendment is unlikely to result in important environmental effects. In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment (SEEA Directive), a preliminary scan concluded that a strategic environmental and economic assessment is not required.
Gender-based analysis plus
Given the targeted nature of this proposal, no gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) impacts have been identified.
Rationale
Canada considers the delisting recourse process to be important for a robust sanctions framework and crucial for the fair application of sanctions.
Based on the information before the Minister, the Minister determined that there are reasonable grounds to recommend to the Governor in Council that the individual’s name be removed from Schedule 1 of the Russia Regulations.
Implementation, compliance and enforcement, and service standards
This regulatory amendment comes into force on the day it is registered. In accordance with the Russia Regulations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is required to notify the individual of the decision to delist without delay. No compliance or enforcement activities are anticipated in relation to this amendment.
The removal of the individual’s name from the Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List reflects the removal of the prohibitions under the Russia Regulations pursuant to this regulatory amendment. This will help to facilitate compliance by ensuring that persons in Canada and Canadians outside Canada who are subject to the prohibitions under the Russia Regulations have access to an updated and accurate list of listed persons. While the removal of these prohibitions theoretically permits the individual to conduct business with Canadians and vice versa, it is not known whether the individual will, in fact, engage in any such transactions.
Contact
Sanctions Bureau
Global Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
Telephone: 343‑203‑3975 or 1‑833‑352‑0769
Email: sanctions@international.gc.ca