“We intend to proceed quickly,” said Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc. Cabinet expected universal approval in Parliament, he added.

Bill C-70, An Act Respecting Countering Foreign Interference, would mandate the disclosure of “foreign principals,” defined as any “foreign economic entity, foreign entity, foreign power or foreign state.”

It threatens five years in jail and a $5 million for any principal lobbying for any person, corporation, union or association situated abroad, including “a service or use of a facility.”

Prohibited activities include undisclosed lobbying, social media posting, and gift distribution, reported Blacklock’s Reporter.

Tucked into new foreign agent legislation suddenly tabled unexpectedly by the Liberals in Bill C-70 are updated provisions to soften up section 52 (1) of the Criminal Code, making sabotage an indictable offence only if there is “intent to endanger.”

Pay attention. Very closely. https://t.co/MLSo2TuEjQ pic.twitter.com/mrl5leRnHd

— Andy Lee - Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) May 7, 2024

“The Opposition parties have been calling for many months for a foreign influence transparency registry,” LeBlanc told reporters. “Our hope is they will work with us so we can put it in place.”

Conservative MP Tom Kmiec did not mince words when stating he hopes the registry is exhaustive. “It should be very detailed,” he told reporters. “That is what I want to see.”

A 2023 RCMP briefing note concurred that greater disclosure would be useful. “A foreign agent registry would be valuable for Canadians as a registrable activity would ensure foreign actors undertaking certain activities are operating in the interests of the Canadian public,” said the note Ministerial Briefing.

Bill C-70 would specifically outlaw “deceptive conduct” by foreign agents in “the exercise of a democratic right” such as voting. 

Yes, we wouldn’t want to punish those foreign agents. They might get the idea that Canada isn’t open for business and pack up and leave. Let’s offer them incentives instead to keep them in operation!https://t.co/HxKYXjXsO5 https://t.co/Q88hWMgMQe pic.twitter.com/qchLYdX5dk

— Andy Lee - Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) May 7, 2024

“I want to see full names, full sources, legal names of entities giving them money,” said MP Kmiec. “If it’s an entity connected to a government, I want to see that government listed,” he added.

“Why is it important?” asked a reporter. “Most of our Western allies have one,” replied Kmiec.

The United Kingdom last July 11 enacted its Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, while Australia in 2018 introduced a Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act to track foreign agents. 

The United States in 1938 introduced a Foreign Agents Registration Act, originally intended to track Nazi sympathizers. It has 519 registrants, which comprise mostly of Washington lobbyists working on behalf of Canadian enterprise and governments.