A view of Centre Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the seat of Canada’s government, in a file photo. (NTDTV)
By NTDTV Staff
The federal government estimates that more than 2,400 businesses and individuals in Canada are working on behalf of foreign nations to influence domestic politics and government decision-making.
According to proposed regulations published Jan. 3 in the Canada Gazette, approximately 2,422 entities will be required to register once Canada’s foreign agent registry becomes operational. The draft rules project that 872 individuals and 1,550 businesses will fall under the registry’s requirements.
The publication states that roughly 93 percent—about 2,252—of those expected to register are Canadian citizens, institutions, or residents. This includes an estimated 1,441 businesses and 811 individuals. The remaining seven percent are foreign entities or individuals operating in Canada.
These estimates are based on Australia’s experience implementing a similar foreign agent registry in 2018. “In Australia, entities with an office were classified as domestic; those without were considered foreign,” the publication said. “This approach produced the 93 percent–7 percent split, which was then applied to individuals as well.”
The proposed regulations also outline penalties for non-compliance. Businesses and individuals acting on behalf of a foreign state would be required to submit information to a future commissioner or face fines ranging from $50 to $1 million.
The draft rules come more than 18 months after Parliament passed Bill C-70 in June 2024, which mandated the creation of a public foreign agent registry. At the time, the government said the registry would be operational by the end of last year.
While the publication of the regulations marks progress, several steps remain before the registry can launch. These include a 30-day public consultation period that began Jan. 3, the appointment of a Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner, and the finalization of regulations and technical infrastructure.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has yet to name a commissioner. The Epoch Times contacted the Prime Minister’s Office for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree told the House of Commons Public Safety Committee on Nov. 6, 2025, that a commissioner would be appointed in “short order,” adding that the government was “finalizing” the process and would soon bring forward a name for feedback.
In an October statement, Public Safety Canada said it already had “a name” in mind and was looking forward to “presenting that name to the opposition” and conducting consultations.
Once appointed, the commissioner’s office must be established, staff hired, and a secure IT system developed. A Public Safety spokesperson said these steps, along with finalizing regulations, must be completed before the registry can officially launch.
The Opposition Conservatives have repeatedly criticized the delays, blaming both the former Trudeau government and the current Carney administration for a lack of urgency. Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong has accused the government of “dragging its feet,” arguing that foreign interference threats continue to grow.
The registry is part of the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act (FITAA), passed in 2024 to counter foreign interference. The legislation creates a framework requiring individuals and organizations to register if they act under the direction of a foreign state. Some information would be made public to promote “greater openness and accountability in foreign influence activities.”
Ottawa has said the registry is necessary because foreign states may covertly hire individuals or organizations to advance political objectives without disclosing those relationships. Individuals, corporations, non-profits, and educational institutions may all be required to register.
Under the proposed rules, information in the registry could be retained for up to 20 years. The commissioner overseeing the system would earn between $225,300 and $265,000 annually.
The registry was prompted by findings from the Foreign Interference Commission, whose final report released last January concluded that China is “the most active perpetrator of foreign interference targeting Canada’s democratic institutions.”