Canadians were promised a foreign agent registry — so where is it?

After Parliament passed a sweeping national security bill last June, the Liberal government pledged to establish a foreign influence transparency registry to identify and prosecute proxies attempting to interfere in Canadian politics. However, nearly a year later, the timeline for the office to become operational remains uncertain.

Dennis Molinaro, a former national security analyst now teaching at Ontario Tech University, expressed concern over the delay, stating that it sends a message to adversaries that Canada may not be serious about national security. The countering foreign interference bill, known as Bill C-70, received bipartisan support in Parliament last year. It requires individuals acting on behalf of foreign states to register with the federal government within 14 days of entering an agreement.

Similar foreign agent registries in the U.S. and Australia have led to successful crackdowns on interference activities. Violators of the rules in the proposed registry could face significant financial penalties and prison time, with diplomats being exempt under international law. The registry would be overseen by an independent foreign influence transparency commissioner, who has yet to be appointed.

The Public Safety department stated that several steps are still needed before the registry can be fully implemented, including the development of regulations, setting up the office, appointing the commissioner, and building the necessary IT infrastructure. Despite initial estimates that the registry could be operational within a year, no concrete timeline has been provided yet.

Advocate Gloria Fung, leading the Canadian Coalition for a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry, emphasized the urgency of establishing the registry, particularly for diaspora communities facing harassment from foreign actors. Reports of foreign interference during the Liberal leadership campaign and recent federal election underscore the need for swift action.

The delay in implementing the registry has drawn criticism from opposition parties, with the Conservatives accusing the Liberals of failing to act on promises and engaging in performative gestures. NDP MP Heather McPherson expressed concern over the lack of progress, noting that the government appears to be in no rush to fulfill its commitments.

While the registry has its critics, including concerns about potential negative impacts on international partnerships, supporters argue that it is a critical tool in safeguarding Canada’s democratic institutions from foreign interference. In addition to the registry, Bill C-70 introduced other measures to combat foreign interference, such as making it a criminal offense and allowing intelligence sharing with universities, businesses, provinces, and municipalities.

As the government works towards establishing the foreign influence transparency registry, stakeholders are hopeful that concrete action will be taken to address the growing threat of foreign interference in Canadian politics.