RCMP Supports Creation of Foreign Agent Registry: Document

The RCMP logo is seen outside the force's 'E' division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on March 16, 2023. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

The creation of a public registry listing the names of foreign agents would be a “valuable” tool, the RCMP said in a government memo.

“A foreign agent registry would be valuable for Canadians as a registrable activity would ensure foreign actors undertaking certain activities are operating in the interests of the Canadian public,” the federal policing agency said in a 2023 ministerial briefing obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.

The RCMP note goes on to add that foreign actor interference can not only pose a threat to Canada’s public safety, including “state-backed harassment and intimidation of individuals,” but may also threaten Canada’s economic interests as well.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered the Department of Public Safety to examine the feasibility of a foreign registry last spring, but legislation has yet to be introduced in the House of Commons.

Canada’s lack of a foreign agent registry is at odds with some of the country’s closest allies, such as the United States, which has forced foreign agents to register themselves since the passage of the Foreign Agents Registration Act in 1938. Both the United Kingdom and Australia have also implemented similar legislation.

A foreign agent registry has a broad range of support among Canadians, Public Safety Canada found after launching a public consultations on the matter last year.

Public Safety Canada noted that foreign interference presented a real challenge for Canada.

“Unclear labelling of state backed communications can produce public or media messaging that reinforces interests of adversarial states and circulates propaganda or disinformation that could either misdirect citizens or pollute the general media and information environment,” Public Safety Canada said in a briefing note.

While the Liberal government has yet to present legislation regarding a foreign agent registry, Senator Leo Housakos has introduced legislation to establish a registry in the Canadian Senate, which passed its first reading in 2022, but has stalled in the chamber.

Bill S-237 would look to both establish a publicly viewable foreign influence registry as well as provide criminal penalties for those who fail to disclose their ties to foreign governments, including fines of up to $200,000 or two years in prison.

The note comes amid the ongoing foreign interference inquiry which has highlighted attempts by the Chinese regime to influence Canada’s federal elections in 2019 and 2021.

Former Tory leader Erin O'Toole testified at the inquiry that his party may have lost up to nine ridings in the 2021 election due to Chinese interference.

Mr. Trudeau pushed back while testifying before the foreign interference inquiry last week on claims Beijing had a preference for which party won the 2021 election. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) stated in an intelligence summary that some Chinese officials in Canada preferred a Liberal Party minority government as the party was perceived to be friendlier than the opposition Conservatives.