Canada imposes new sanctions against Venezuelan officials

News release

March 21, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, announced that Canada is imposing new sanctions against Venezuelan officials under the Special Economic Measures (Venezuela) Regulations.

These sanctions target 8 current senior officials of the Venezuelan government who have engaged in activities that directly or indirectly supported human rights violations in Venezuela and/or activities that undermine Venezuela’s democracy.

These new sanctions align with previous measures taken by Canada and its allies earlier this year. The sanctions add additional pressure on Nicolás Maduro’s regime to respect the will of the Venezuelan people. They also aim to dissuade the authorities from taking further actions that violate the human rights of protestors, journalists, opposition leaders and other members of civil society.

Canada is listing the following 8 individuals under the regulations:

Douglas Arnoldo Rico González
Carlos Enrique Terán Hurtado
Carlos Alberto Calderon Chirinos
Florencio Ramón Escalona
Leonel Alberto García Rivas
Ronny Fernando González Montesinos
Manuel Enrique Castillo Rengifo
Jose Ramon Figuera Valdez

Canada remains deeply concerned by the Maduro regime’s destabilizing actions and the threat that they pose to Venezuelans and the region. Canada is unwavering in its commitment to human rights, the rule of law and democracy in Venezuela and across the region.

Quotes

“Today’s sanctions reflect Canada’s long-standing commitment to upholding democracy and the rule of law. They are also a clear message to the regime of Nicolás Maduro that Canada will not tolerate any activities that violate human rights. A peaceful, negotiated and Venezuelan-led solution is needed to resolve this crisis. We call on all parties to begin negotiations to ensure that the democratic will of the people of Venezuela is respected and a peaceful transition process is established.”

- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development.

Quick facts

With today’s announcement, Canada has imposed sanctions against a total of 139 Venezuelan individuals.
As part of Canada’s foreign policy response to the situation in Venezuela, Canada has imposed 6 rounds of targeted sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Venezuela) Regulations on individuals in or linked to the Maduro regime:
- In September 2017, Canada imposed sanctions against 40 individuals linked to the Maduro regime and involved in the regime’s actions that destabilized the security and integrity of democratic institutions in Venezuela.
- In May 2018, Canada imposed sanctions against an additional 14 individuals in response to further erosion of democratic institutions in Venezuela and the consolidation of Maduro’s power through illegitimate presidential elections held on May 20, 2018.
- In April 2019, Canada imposed sanctions against an additional 43 individuals, most of them high-level officials of the Maduro regime implicated in acts of repression.
- In December 2024, Canada imposed sanctions against 5 individuals who had engaged in activities that directly or indirectly undermined democracy in Venezuela.
- In January 2025, Canada imposed sanctions against 14 individuals who had engaged in activities that directly or indirectly supported human rights violations in Venezuela.
In addition to the sanctions imposed under the Special Economic Measures Act, Canada imposed sanctions under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act in 2017 against 19 individuals who were responsible for or complicit in gross violations of human rights or who had committed acts of significant corruption.

Associated links

Canadian sanctions related to Venezuela

Contacts

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca

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Date modified:: 2025-03-21

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