Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.
It is my pleasure to appear before this committee to speak about the implementation of the registry of foreign influence activities. On August 4, 2026, I was formally appointed as Canada's first foreign influence transparency commissioner.
In this role, I am responsible for overseeing the administration of the transparency model established under the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act. I maintain a public registry and provide guidance to people and organizations whose activities may fall within the scope of the act. I promote public awareness and understanding of the new framework and its requirements, and I engage constructively with stakeholders, including communities, civil society and all levels of government, to better understand the issues. When necessary, I will carry out investigations and enforce compliance with the act, which should also act to deter non-compliant actors, and I will report publicly on the activities of the office on compliance and on emerging issues.
The registry provides Canadians with a clear and accessible tool to see who is acting with a foreign principal to influence political or governmental processes in Canada, as well as the details of their activities. The arrangements on the registry are transparent and comply with the act.
The registry makes this information available so that Canadians can better understand who is seeking to influence Canada's civic and democratic institutions and processes and how it is being done.
The act requires individuals or organizations to provide information to my office when they enter into an arrangement with a foreign principal that involves activities intended to influence a Canadian political or governmental process. They must register with us within 14 days of entering into an arrangement. If the arrangement existed before August 4, 2026, and continued after, they had until October 3 to submit their registration. Submissions are published in the registry after they've been reviewed and validated.
During the first two months, my office has focused on establishing effective processes in supporting stakeholder understanding of the act and in promoting compliance through outreach and guidance. I conducted several interviews with national media and have been implementing an engagement strategy that includes broad outreach to stakeholders through targeted email campaigns and public webinars. As an example, I delivered a focused engagement session for the academic sector with over 300 attendees.
We met with universities, government relations firms, international consular groups, industry associations and diaspora organizations. We've also worked with provincial and territorial governments as well as election agencies.
My office will continue to meet with stakeholders, promote awareness of the act and support understanding and compliance throughout the implementation process.
We continue to receive submissions as individuals and organizations assess their obligations under the act and determine whether registration requirements apply to their activities.
The registry is central to the administration of the act, and the development of a more robust registry that can better meet long-term business requirements continues to advance. This long-term solution remains a key organizational priority and will be critical to supporting the office's future operational requirements.
By registering their arrangements, individuals and organizations demonstrate their commitment to operating openly and transparently. The registry, the transparency requirements and public reporting on compliance and enforcement will also serve to deter those who may want to undertake influence activities in a covert fashion. Transparency in foreign influence activities supports legitimate advocacy, public debate and international co-operation. Providing Canadians with accessible information about certain foreign influence activities promotes openness and helps strengthen confidence in Canada's democratic institutions and processes.
I believe my office has made a positive start in implementing the mandate and is currently planning and preparing for the extensive work still to come.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
