Canada is introducing new disclosure requirements aimed at exposing foreign influence in the country’s political system. According to Canada’s federal government, the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act, or FITAA, will take effect on Aug. 4 and increase transparency around activities carried out on behalf of foreign principals to influence Canadian political and government processes.
Often described as a foreign agent registry, the legislation could also affect Canadian businesses and organizations with ties to foreign governments or state-linked entities.
Anton Boegman, a former chief electoral officer of British Columbia, has been appointed Canada’s first Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner for a seven-year term.
Boegman will oversee the creation of a public registry requiring individuals and organizations to disclose certain activities carried out under arrangements with foreign governments or foreign entities when those activities are intended to influence Canadian political or government processes.
Registration is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
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Who must register?
The federal government has published an interactive questionnaire on its website to help individuals and organizations determine whether they may be required to register.
Businesses and individuals should review their relationships with foreign governments, state-owned enterprises and other foreign-linked bodies to assess whether FITAA applies to them.
Relevant relationships may include those involving state-owned investment organizations, utilities, infrastructure and engineering companies, transportation companies such as railways, shipping firms and airlines, as well as media and telecommunications businesses.
The law may also apply to film and television companies, broadcasters, podcast producers, mobile communications providers, social media platforms, content providers, sovereign wealth funds and development banks.
Anyone subject to the law must register within 14 days of entering into a qualifying arrangement. Arrangements already in place before Aug. 4 must be registered by Oct. 3, 2026, according to federal guidance.
Failing to register, update information on time or provide accurate information could result in significant penalties. Each violation may carry an administrative monetary penalty of up to one million Canadian dollars, and reports of violations will be made public.
How the FITAA framework works
An individual or organization must register when three conditions are met:
- They have an “arrangement” with a foreign principal;
- The arrangement is intended to influence a Canadian political or government process; and
- The arrangement involves an “influence activity.”
The law defines influence activities broadly.
They can include publishing material on websites, blogs or social media; issuing press releases or media advisories; giving interviews or appearing on media programs; organizing or sponsoring public events; distributing written or visual materials such as reports, brochures or flyers; conducting publicity or advocacy campaigns; and carrying out surveys, opinion polls or public consultations.
According to a Sing Tao report citing Radio Canada International, Cheuk Kwan, co-chair of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China, said his organization was waiting for the regulations to be released before assessing how effectively the registry could curb foreign interference.
“What concerns us most are the foreign governments’ ‘proxy forces,’ because the individuals and organizations involved are highly complex and operate covertly. It is difficult for regulations to define them clearly, let alone require them to register or operate transparently,” he said.
Kwan said the Chinese Canadian community has been deeply affected by foreign influence and infiltration.
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