EDITORIAL: Where’s the foreign lobbyists’ registry?

Given all we now know about foreign interference into Canadian democracy, the fact the Liberal government has yet to establish a foreign lobbyists’ registry is appalling.

The previous Justin Trudeau government claimed to have been “actively considering” one since February 2021.

On March 6 2023, at the height of the controversy over foreign interference by China, India and other countries, Trudeau promised Canadians he would create a foreign lobbyists’ registry.

In September 2023, the Trudeau government launched a public inquiry into foreign interference, which recommended the registry among other steps to combat foreign interference.

In June 2024, the Liberals finally passed the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act, but they haven’t implemented it.

Today, almost five years after the Liberals claimed they were “seriously considering” a registry, the Mark Carney government says it’s still working on it.

This despite Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree saying in August that a foreign interference commissioner would be named in September with the registry starting operations in the fall.

These delays are inexcusable given repeated calls for the registry by the opposition parties and human rights organizations representing Canadians who continue to be targeted by foreign agents operating in Canada.

These same agents also attempt to influence Canadian politicians and government officials beyond normal diplomatic means.

The lobbyists’ registry is no panacea for combating foreign interference. It’s one method of many needed to protect Canadians from foreign interference.

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It would require anyone lobbying for a foreign government to register their activity within two weeks of reaching an agreement, with fines of up to $5 million and five years imprisonment for violations.

It’s similar to legislation that already exists in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia.

The fact that Carney is attempting to improve trade relations with China, India and other countries in order to reduce our alliance on American trade in the midst of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war against us is no excuse for delaying the foreign lobbyists’ registry.

Trade is a separate issue from the safety of Canadians and protecting our democratic institutions from foreign interference.

Carney’s failure to implement the registry to date also raises questions about how seriously the Liberal government is taking the continuing threat of foreign interference to Canada.