Canada grants temporary privileges and immunities to delegates at Toronto conference on Ukraine

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

A new federal order extends limited privileges and immunities to participants in a two-day international conference in Toronto focused on returning Ukrainian children, civilians, and prisoners of war. Official delegates from foreign states receive immunity protections tied to their conference functions, drawn from the UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities. Senior officials of international organizations get near-diplomatic-level protections (excluding duty and tax relief), while other officials and experts receive narrower, function-specific protections. These privileges apply only for a defined window around the conference dates and expire in early October 2026. Organizations sending representatives to the conference should be aware of the scope and limits of these protections when planning attendance.

Who this affects: foreign state delegates attending the Toronto conference · senior officials of international organizations · other officials and experts of international organizations · Canadian hosts and logistics coordinators for the conference