Dramatic Increase in Fintrac Fines Coming, but Their Effectiveness Is Less Clear

B.C. has reached a major milestone in efforts to fight organized crime, with the sentencing of a 37-year-old Richmond woman to 18 months in jail, the first sentencing in a decade in the province, says B.C.’s anti-gang agency on Nov. 24, 2025. The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward

The cost of doing business is set to go up, dramatically, for companies that don’t keep a close eye on anti-money laundering obligations.

A broad range of firms that handle large transactions, from jewellers to big banks, face potential penalties 40 times higher than existing rates. The changes are part of Bill C-12, which passed in the House of Commons on Dec. 11 and is waiting for a final stamp of approval from the Senate.