Canada’s new foreign-influence registry has reached its first major compliance test with roughly 30 submissions following an October 3 transitional deadline, far below the annual registrants Ottawa used as its central planning estimate.
Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner Anton Boegman told MPs that his office received about 30 submissions over the weekend, according to The Canadian Press. Canada’s public registry still showed only two validated registrations as of Wednesday because submissions are reviewed before publication.
Public Safety Canada’s January regulatory analysis estimated 1,767 registrants would submit information annually, with another 54 new registrants added each year.
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Ottawa acknowledged that no direct data existed to determine the likely Canadian population, so officials constructed the estimate using Canadian lobbying registries and Australia’s Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme.
The same analysis estimated that approximately 2,422 businesses and individuals, including 872 individuals and 1,550 businesses, could be affected by the regulations.
The law covers individuals and organizations acting under the direction of, or in association with, a foreign principal to influence Canadian political or governmental processes. Registrable activities can include lawful lobbying, communications, and other forms of advocacy. The registry is intended to disclose those relationships publicly.
October 3 was also not a universal deadline for everyone who may eventually appear in the registry. It applied to arrangements that existed before the regime took effect on August 4. Arrangements beginning on or after August 4 generally must be registered within 14 days, meaning the system operates with continuing deadlines.
Failure to comply can trigger enforcement measures, with administrative monetary penalties reaching $1 million.
The early numbers nevertheless drew criticism from Conservative MPs. Michael Cooper called the rollout a “complete and utter failure.”
Boegman cautioned that the system was new and told MPs he expected registrations to increase as awareness of the requirements grows.
