Changes To The Canadian Anti-Corruption Regime Are Now In Force

On June 19, 2013, Bill S-14: The Fighting Foreign Corruption Act, received Royal Assent, thereby bringing into force the most significant changes to Canada's anti-corruption legislation, the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA), since its inception. Bill S-14, which passed through both the Senate and House of Commons without amendment, significantly increases the scope of the CFPOA's prohibitions and enhances the ability of Canadian authorities to prosecute and penalize offenders.

Canadians companies should now be carefully reviewing their anti-bribery policies and procedures to ensure they are in full compliance with these new laws. Further, those companies whose policies currently allow for facilitation payments should now be taking steps to eliminate those practices as the government has served notice that the existing exception for such payments will be repealed.