Federal government officials say that upon legislation being passed enacting a foreign influence registry, it will take an extra year before it becomes operational.
Officials from the Department of Public Safety testified before the House of Commons public safety committee on May 30, with MPs beginning a study of Bill C-70.
The bill tabled by the government on May 6, titled an “Act respecting countering foreign interference,” seeks to establish a foreign influence registry, among multiple other measures.
The Conservatives have been opposed to much of the Liberals’ legislative agenda, but they are backing Bill C-70 and have committed to work to expedite its adoption.
Tory MPs on the committee have expressed concerns that the foreign influence registry will not be in place by the time the next scheduled federal election occurs in October 2025.
He said it’s “not a coincidence that this legislation was introduced the first sitting day after the damning report” was released.
The report says that foreign interference didn’t impact the overall result of the elections in 2019 and 2021, but that individual ridings were potentially affected.
Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue concluded that “foreign interference impacted the overall election ecosystem in 2019 and 2021.”
Richard Bilodeau, a director general at Public Safety Canada, told the public safety committee it will take a year before the registry is functional after being enacted, citing the need to write regulations. Mr. Bilodeau also mentioned the need to build an IT solution to host the registry and to develop investigative capabilities.
A commissioner will also need to be hired, along with establishing the related organization. “It is a significant amount of work,” said Mr. Bilodeau.
The foreign influence registry would require individuals who carry out tasks at the behest of a foreign principal to notify the commissioner of the arrangement. A contravention is punishable by a fine of no more than $5 million and a prison term of up to five years.
Facing questions about the length of time to establish the registry, Public Safety Associate Assistant Deputy Minister Sébastien Aubertin-Giguère said the department could “look at how timelines could be accelerated.”
Tory MP Doug Shipley expressed disbelief at the length of time required to set up a registry, drawing a comparison with the private sector.
“In a year you could incorporate a company, find a facility, bring in inventory, hire employees, get customers, ship, and start making profits,” he said.
Mr. Cooper noted that further delays to the implementation of the foreign registry could stem from cabinet, which must issue an order-in-council for its establishment.
When asked by Mr. Cooper if “it would be correct to say there’s nothing in the legislation that would prevent the government from delivering and issuing that order in council, ” Mr. Bilodeau confirmed that is the case.
