Canada imposes additional sanctions against members of Haitian economic elite

September 21, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today 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.