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ARTICLE · 16 MAY 2024

Bill C-70's New Foreign Influence Registry To Impose Heavy Compliance Burden

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

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In response to high-profile concerns about foreign interference in Canadian elections, Canada's Minister of Public Safety has proposed a new Bill C-70, the Countering Foreign Interference Act (Bill).

CanadaFinance and Banking
Alexis Levine
Alexis Levine
Alan Fraser
Alan Fraser
Elder Marques
Elder Marques
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In response to high-profile concerns about foreign interference in Canadian elections, Canada's Minister of Public Safety has proposed a new Bill C-70, the Countering Foreign Interference Act (Bill). The Bill makes a number of sweeping changes to Canada's foreign interference and security regimes. Its broad definitions also raise several compliance challenges, which we highlight below.

This bulletin focuses on the Bill's new proposed Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act (Act), the new foreign influence registry (Registry) created under that Act, and certain related provisions in the Bill.

The Bill also makes several changes to the underlying evidentiary requirements, warrant provisions and criminal prohibitions relating to Canada's security clearance and foreign interference regime. We have separately summarized these changes in our companion Blakes Bulletin: Canada Responds to Foreign Interference with New Criminal Offences and Procedures.

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