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HR 9783

CANADA FIRE Act

119th Congress Introduced by John James

The bill creates sanctions and visa restrictions to pressure Canada to prevent, mitigate, and rapidly respond to cross-border wildfire smoke affecting the U.S.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9783

CANADA FIRE Act (H.R. 9783, 119th Congress)

Purpose and overall intent

  • Establishes a framework to respond to and deter transboundary wildfire smoke originating from Canada that affects the United States.
  • Authorizes targeted sanctions on responsible foreign persons and the Government of Canada, along with related visa restrictions and diplomatic considerations, to incentivize Canada to prevent, mitigate, and rapidly respond to wildfire smoke events.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 2 — Findings
    • Identifies a national interest in protecting U.S. health, safety, economy, and environment from cross-border air pollution.
    • Notes that 2026 saw repeated cross-border smoke from Canada affecting U.S. air quality and related activities.
    • Argues Canada has the capacity to mitigate fires and share information, but has failed to do so adequately.
  • Section 3 — Policy
    • U.S. policy to protect against transboundary air pollution and hold foreign officials accountable for preventable harms.
    • Encourages Canada to adopt stronger wildfire prevention/forest management, share timely air-quality information, and cooperate with U.S. authorities.
    • Allows targeted sanctions that minimize harm to ordinary Canadians.
    • Sanctions may be terminated once verifiable, durable corrective action by Canada is achieved.
  • Section 4 — Definitions
    • Defines concepts including “material transboundary smoke event,” “responsible foreign person,” “Government of Canada,” and “material transboundary smoke event” thresholds (air-quality exceedances, unhealthy AQI, public-health advisories, or significant adverse effects).
  • Section 5 — Determination of transboundary smoke emergency
    • Requires an initial determination within 30 days of enactment on whether Canada-origin smoke events occurred and whether Canada failed to respond adequately.
    • If affirmative, the President must publish notice and impose sanctions; if not, determinations are deemed affirmative by default.
    • Requires periodic 180-day reviews to assess ongoing conditions.
  • Section 6 — Sanctions on responsible foreign persons
    • Identification process for individuals tied to Canada who are responsible for, or materially contributed to, transboundary smoke events.
    • Authorities to block property under IEEPA and prohibit transactions with designated persons.
    • Regular updates to the sanctions list (every 180 days); list to be public in unclassified form.
  • Section 7 — Sanctions on the Government of Canada (mandatory)
    • Upon affirmative determination, several sanctions automatically apply, including (but not necessarily limited to):
    • Bar on U.S. government procurement contracts with Canada or Canadian entities.
    • Prohibition on Export-Import Bank support for Canada-related exports.
    • Influence over international financial institutions to oppose loans or policies benefiting Canada, with narrow humanitarian/ wildfire-related exceptions.
    • Restrictions on U.S. banking transactions, sovereign debt, and equity dealings with Canadian government entities.
    • Import restrictions on goods produced by Canadian-government-controlled entities.
    • Restrictions on new investments and on state-owned enterprises involved in relevant activities.
    • Sanctions can be adjusted with wind-down periods (up to 60 days).
  • Section 8 — Visa restrictions
    • Designated Canadian individuals would be denied U.S. visas and entry; existing visas could be revoked.
    • Waivers possible under certain international obligations or security considerations.
  • Section 9 — Sense of Congress regarding Canadian diplomatic personnel
    • If sanctions persist, a sense of Congress supports considering persona non grata declarations for various Canadian diplomatic officials whose duties relate to environmental policy, forestry, wildfire response, etc.
    • Certification requirement: no replacement Canadian ambassadors may present credentials until the President certifies sustained air quality improvements (AQI below 100 for 90 consecutive days) due to cessation of Canadian-origin smoke.
  • Section 10 — Humanitarian and other exceptions
    • Allows exemptions for humanitarian goods (food, medicine, wildfire management, etc.) and for activities necessary to comply with humanitarian objectives, disaster response, or essential diplomatic/UN obligations.
    • Incorporates IEEPA exceptions and allows permitted diplomatic, intelligence, and official business activities.
  • Section 11 — Implementation and penalties
    • President can use IEEPA authorities to implement sanctions.
    • Violations carry penalties under IEEPA provisions.
    • Regulations and delegations to federal agencies permitted; 90-day regulatory timetable.
  • Section 12 — Waiver
    • President may waive sanctions if needed for national security, humanitarian relief, or to improve Canada-U.S. cooperation, with notice to Congress.
  • Section 13 — Presidential certification and termination of sanctions
    • Certification can terminate sanctions if Canada has not had material smoke events for 90 days and has taken credible corrective actions, with steps showing data sharing and cooperation.
    • If sanctions terminate and a new Canadian cross-border smoke event occurs, they may be reimposed.
  • Section 14 — Rule of construction
    • Clarifies relationships to existing authorities (IEEPA, National Emergencies Act, INA), limits on military force, private rights, and certain international obligations.

Who/how would be affected

  • Government of Canada and Canadian state-owned enterprises involved in forestry, land management, wildfire prevention/suppression, environmental protection, or related ministries.
  • Individuals identified as responsible foreign persons (e.g., Canadian officials tied to the relevant activities) could face asset freezes, visa bans, and travel restrictions.
  • U.S. agencies and financial institutions could be restricted from contracting with or financing Canadian government entities, and Canadian-related debt/equity transactions could be limited.
  • Canadian diplomatic personnel could face visa and credentialing consequences, and a potential persona non grata posture could be pursued.
  • The sanctions framework includes humanitarian protections to avoid deep harms to civilians and essential services.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Initial determination required within 30 days of enactment; if not made, the determination is deemed affirmative.
  • Periodic reviews at least every 180 days to assess ongoing conditions.
  • Sanctions on individuals enacted within 60 days after affirmative determinations; sanctions on Canada-related government activities apply concurrently with those on individuals.
  • Unclassified sanctions lists to be made public, with possible classified annexes.
  • Regulations to implement the Act must be issued within 90 days of enactment.
  • Possible waivers and certifications provide a mechanism to terminate or reimpose sanctions based on Canada’s actions and air-quality outcomes.

Note: The bill is designed to be a coercive tool to push Canada toward stronger wildfire management and cross-border transparency, while preserving humanitarian exemptions and avoiding broad economic impacts on ordinary Canadians.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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