In a rapidly changing world, Canadians deserve to feel confident about the integrity of their country's democratic institutions and processes, including knowing when foreign states and actors are trying to influence public life.
Canada now has a dedicated office and clear oversight mechanisms to increase transparency around foreign influence activities, and the government is making it more visible when actors from abroad work to influence Canadians.
Today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, announced the coming into force of the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act and the regulations that govern it, which formally establishes a public registry of foreign influence activities. The registry will be overseen by independent Commissioner Anton Boegman.
Together, these measures create a new system making it clearer when and how foreign entities seek to influence Canadians, and empower our law enforcement and intelligence agencies to better address the evolving threat of covert foreign interference.
As of today, individuals and organizations that have an arrangement with a foreign principal to conduct activities intended to influence a Canadian political or governmental process are required to register this arrangement.
These activities will be displayed in a publicly accessible registry, providing Canadians with greater transparency regarding foreign influence activities. This will give Canadians a better understanding of who may be seeking to influence Canada's civic and democratic institutions and processes, and how.
With the Act now in force, Anton Boegman is also formally appointed as Canada's inaugural Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner. As Commissioner, he independently administers and enforces the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act and its regulations.
This marks a significant milestone in Canada's efforts to increase transparency around foreign influence activities while protecting the integrity of the country's democratic institutions. This new system builds on existing measures to detect, deter and respond to foreign interference, which includes strengthened intelligence coordination, increased policing resources, stronger border measures, and enhanced engagement with civil society, diaspora communities, and vulnerable communities.
