Ottawa Launches Public Consultations on Creation of Foreign Agent Registry

Marco Mendicino rises during Question Period, in Ottawa, Sept. 26, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

The federal government has launched public consultations to begin the process of creating a foreign agent registry in Canada, which will require individuals or entities working on behalf of a foreign authority to register with the Canadian government.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino announced the launch of the consultations during a press conference in Ottawa on March 10, saying they are intended to “broadly engage all Canadians” in discussions about foreign interference in Canadian institutions.

Mendicino also said the consultations are intended to help find ways of modernizing current legislative authorities to give them ways to address “foreign state activities that go beyond legitimate diplomacy in an attempt to clandestinely or deceptively manipulate Canada’s open democracy.”

Public Safety Canada (PSC) says the registry will “ensure transparency and accountability” from individuals working on behalf of foreign governments and will require foreign states engaged in acts of interference to register their activities.

A virtual portal has been set up on PSC’s website through which individuals can submit questionnaire responses until May 9.

A poll conducted in December 2022 by Nanos Research found that almost 90 percent of Canadians supported the creation of a foreign agent registry, with only about 7 percent of the survey’s respondents opposing the idea.

Reporters questioned Mendicino on March 10 as to why his government has delayed the creation of a foreign agent registry until now, as allies like the United States have had one since the 1980s and Australia created a “Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme” in 2018.

“There’s no doubt that the threat involving foreign interference has evolved over the last number of years,” Mendicino responded.

Registry

The minister was asked repeatedly by reporters when Ottawa expects to have the foreign influence registry up and running. He was also asked if it will be operating by the time of the next federal election, but Mendicino did not give an exact timeline.

Mendicino said once the consultation period is over in May, the Liberal government will begin crafting legislation “that is respectful of the various perspectives and advice” received from Canadians through the consultations.

“I understand that this is urgent, but what I’m trying to underscore is that even as we are having this conversation, the government has been vigilant,” he said.

Sen. Leo Housakos introduced a bill in the Senate in March 2022 aimed at creating a foreign influence registry, but it has remained idle ever since.

Isaac Teo and Andrew Chen contributed to this report.