Canada has taken a significant step to strengthen transparency around foreign influence by formally establishing a public registry that requires individuals and organizations acting on behalf of foreign principals to disclose activities intended to influence Canadian political or governmental processes.
Announced by the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, the coming into force of the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act and its accompanying regulations creates a new framework designed to make foreign influence activities more visible while providing additional tools for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to address evolving foreign interference threats.
Beginning immediately, anyone with an arrangement to conduct influence activities on behalf of a foreign principal must register that relationship. Those registrations will be published in a publicly accessible registry, giving Canadians greater visibility into who may be seeking to influence the country’s democratic institutions and decision-making processes.
The registry will be administered independently by Anton Boegman, who has been formally appointed as Canada’s inaugural Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner. His office will oversee compliance with the legislation and enforce its requirements as an independent authority.
Minister Anandasangaree said the registry represents an important safeguard for Canada’s democratic institutions.
“Transparency is a key part of protecting Canada’s democracy. With the establishment of the public registry, we are moving to ensure those representing the interests of a foreign entity do so with transparency and accountability, and to weed out the foreign interference that seeks to harm our country and our people. I welcome Mr. Boegman in his important role as Commissioner and am confident his strong leadership will help Canadians to better understand how foreign influence works and strengthen public confidence in our democratic and electoral institutions and processes.”
Boegman said the registry is intended to give Canadians greater insight into how foreign influence is exercised while reinforcing confidence in public institutions.
“It is a privilege to serve as Canada’s first Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner. The establishment of a public registry of foreign influence activities strengthens transparency, accountability and public trust. By making information about foreign influence activities openly available, we are empowering Canadians with greater insight into how influence is exercised, on whose behalf, and how public decision-making may be shaped, while strengthening confidence in our democratic institutions.”
The registry forms part of Canada’s broader efforts to detect, deter and respond to foreign interference. It complements existing initiatives that include strengthened intelligence coordination, expanded policing resources, enhanced border measures, and increased engagement with civil society, diaspora communities and other vulnerable communities. Together, these measures aim to improve transparency while helping Canadians better understand when foreign actors seek to influence the country’s civic and democratic processes.
