Groups call on Ottawa to activate foreign influence registry as election approaches

By Canadian Press on February 27, 2025.

OTTAWA — Members of diaspora communities are urging Ottawa to get its planned foreign influence transparency registry up and running before the coming general election.

Countries engaging in foreign interference to advance political goals might employ people to act on their behalf without disclosing those ties.

The foreign influence transparency registry will require certain individuals to register with the federal government to help guard against such activity.

An independent commissioner will administer the registration scheme, which is to be enforced through notices, monetary fines and, in the most serious cases, criminal penalties.

Parliament passed federal legislation last year to create the registry.

Gloria Fung, past-president of Canada-Hong Kong Link, says there’s “still a vacuum” because Ottawa has yet to appoint a commissioner or nail down exactly how the registry will work.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 27, 2025.

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press