While the Trudeau government now says it’s actively considering creating a foreign influence transparency registry to help address foreign interference in Canada’s domestic affairs, the fact is it’s been saying that for more than two years.
What has kick-started the process is allegations China interfered in the 2019 and 2021 elections and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals failed to head warnings from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service about how serious it was.
Public Safety Minister 16 said Friday the government is launching a public consultation process on creating the registry until May 9, insisting “Canada will never accept foreign interference in our affairs.
“When it comes to hostile states who attempt to interfere in our country, our eyes are wide open,” he said. “Consultations on the creation of a Canadian Foreign Influence Transparency Registry will bolster our efforts to address interference and protect Canadians.”
In reality, until last week, the Liberals were moving at glacial speed on what they now say is the pressing and important issue of foreign interference in Canadian affairs.
By contrast, Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos already has a private members’ bill before the Senate — S-237 — An Act to Establish the Foreign Influence Registry.
It would require all federal lobbyists acting for “a foreign government, an individual or entity related to a foreign government” to name their clients and fees, under threat of fines of up to $200,000 and two years in jail for failing to do so.
The U.S., Australia and Israel already have foreign influence registries and the U.K. is considering one.
Private members’ bills, however, have little chance of becoming law unless the government decides to support them.
Experience with this legislation in other countries has shown these registries are only effective if the government is willing to enforce them and if the legislation clearly defines who must register as foreign lobbyists, with limited exemptions.
Mendicino himself said last month the registry alone will not significantly improve Canada’s ability to detect security threats by foreign powers unless it is accompanied by other measures.
Considering that Trudeau was downplaying the issue of foreign interference until last week, skepticism is warranted about how seriously the Liberals are going to treat it going forward.
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