Canada’s newly established foreign influence registry has received only about 30 registration submissions, raising questions about compliance with a federal system designed to increase transparency around foreign influence in Canadian political and governmental affairs.
Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner Anton Boegman told a House of Commons committee Tuesday that his office had received roughly 30 submissions over the weekend. Only two registrations had been publicly posted on the registry as of Tuesday morning, as the remaining submissions were still being reviewed and validated. The registry officially came into force on Aug. 4, 2026, under the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act. The system requires certain individuals and organizations working with foreign principals to disclose arrangements involving activities intended to influence Canadian political or governmental processes. The federal government had previously estimated that the registry could eventually include about 1,767 registrants submitting information each year, with additional new registrations expected annually. Public Safety Canada has also estimated that thousands of individuals and organizations could potentially fall within the broader scope of the new requirements. The relatively small number of registrations has prompted questions from opposition MPs about whether Canadians are aware of their obligations and whether the new system will be effective in identifying foreign influence activities. Boegman told MPs that it is too early to determine whether the low number represents widespread non-compliance. He said the registry is new and that his office has spent much of its initial period communicating with industries, organizations and individuals who may have a legal obligation to register. The commissioner said he expects registration numbers to increase as more people become familiar with the requirements. Under the law, registration is required when an individual or organization enters into an arrangement with a foreign principal for the purpose of influencing a Canadian political or governmental process and the arrangement involves specified influence activities. A foreign principal can include a foreign state or government, a foreign organization, a foreign economic entity or an individual acting on behalf of such an entity.
The activities covered by the legislation can include communicating with public office holders, communicating information to the public about a political or governmental process, or providing money, services, facilities or other items of value as part of an influence arrangement. The registry does not mean that every interaction with a foreign government or organization must be registered. The legislation is specifically focused on arrangements that meet the legal conditions for registration.
The system is intended to distinguish legitimate and transparent foreign engagement from covert influence. Government officials have said the goal is to allow Canadians to see who is working with foreign principals, what political or governmental processes they are seeking to influence and what activities are being undertaken. Registration information is reviewed before it is published. Some personal information, including dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses and residential addresses, is kept private. For arrangements that existed before the registry came into force on Aug. 4 and continued afterward, the deadline to register was Oct. 3. New arrangements generally must be registered within 14 days.
Boegman said his office is now examining the submissions it has received and working with government partners to identify situations where registration may be required. The commissioner also indicated that the registry has enforcement powers. Individuals and organizations that violate the law can face administrative monetary penalties, with the maximum penalty reaching $1 million in certain circumstances.
The creation of the registry follows years of growing concern in Canada over foreign interference. A federal public inquiry examined allegations involving foreign attempts to influence Canadian elections and political institutions, while Canadian intelligence and law-enforcement agencies have warned about threats from foreign states. The registry is one part of the federal government’s broader response to those concerns. Ottawa says greater transparency can help Canadians understand when foreign actors are attempting to influence public decision-making. The limited number of registrations during the first reporting period is therefore likely to remain under close scrutiny. Opposition MPs are questioning whether the initial figures reflect a lack of awareness, uncertainty about the rules or a larger compliance problem. Boegman has emphasized that his office is still in the early stages of implementing the system. As awareness increases and the validation of recently submitted registrations is completed, more entries are expected to appear publicly.
The commissioner’s office will also be responsible for investigating potential violations and taking enforcement action where necessary. For now, officials say the focus remains on educating individuals and organizations about the new requirements while ensuring the registry becomes fully operational.
The number of registrations is expected to become clearer in the coming months as the office processes outstanding submissions and identifies additional arrangements that may fall under the law.