Ottawa – Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations in response to acts of significant corruption, which are fueling the current security, political and humanitarian crisis in the country. These latest sanctions target 3 members of the Haitian economic elite: 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 subjected to a broad dealings prohibition.
Canada has reason to believe these individuals are fuelling the violence and instability in Haiti through corruption and other criminal acts and by enabling the illegal activities of armed gangs that terrorize the population and threaten peace and security in Haiti. Canada will continue to support all efforts to address the ongoing political, security and humanitarian crisis in Haiti to respond to the urgent needs of the Haitian people.
“Canada remains steadfast in its support to Haiti and its people and believes that sanctions are an important tool in the multifaceted approach to address the political situation in Haiti. We continue to call on the international community to join Canada in putting pressure on those who directly contribute to the ongoing violence and instability in Haiti.” – Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs