Magnitsky human rights law, protections for journalists' sources get royal assent

Two private member's bills, one protecting journalists' sources and another that allows Canada to get tough on human rights abusers, received royal assent Wednesday.

One of those laws is the so-calledMagnitskyAct, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act orBill S-226. It allows the Canadian government to impose sanctions and travel banson foreign officials responsible for gross human rights violations.

"Canada has a strong reputation around the world as a country that holds clear and cherished democratic values and stands up for human rights," Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freelandsaid in a statement issued by Global Affairs Canada.

"This new law, which has received cross-partisan support in Parliament, is a clear demonstration that Canada takes any and all necessary measures to respond to gross violations of human rights and acts of significant foreign corruption," Freeland said in the statement.

The legislation was inspired byRussian lawyerSergei Magnitsky, who died in 2009 in a Moscow prison after accusing Russian officials of a massive tax fraud scheme.

In a series of tweets Wednesday, the Russian Embassy in Canada called the bill's royal assent an "irrational act" causing "irreparable damage" to Canada-Russia relations.

When the bill unanimously passed intheHouse in early October, Russia threatened to retaliate.

Bill S-226 was introduced by Conservative Sen.Raynell Andreychukin May 2016. The government of Canada announced its support in May 2017, but with added amendments.

Protection of journalistic sources

The Journalistic Sources Protection Act, Bill S-231,also received royal assent Wednesday. It amendsCanadian law to better protect the confidentiality of journalistic sources.

Conservative Sen. ClaudeCarignantabled the private member's bill in November 2016, following revelations thatQuebec provincial police had spied on reportersin 2013.

"A great day for democracy," said Carignan in a tweet.

Bill S-231 allows journalists to refuse to disclose information or a document that identifiesa journalistic source. However, a journalist may be compelled to disclose the informationif it cannot be obtained by any other reasonable meansand the public interest in the administration of justice outweighs the public interest of protecting the identity of the source.

The bill also amends the Criminal Code so that only a judge of a superior court may issue a search warrant against a journalist.

The House voted unanimously in favour of these protections on Oct. 4.