Press Release
January 28, 2021
Toronto
Canada scored 77 out of 100 on the 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released today by Transparency International. This is the same score Canada received in 2019, keeping it out of the coveted top 10 least corrupt countries. Canada ranks 11th out of 180 countries on the 2020 CPI. Canada still trails behind leaders including Denmark and New Zealand.
Canada’s stagnant standing in the index comes at a time when governments are spending records amounts of funds in the fight against COVID-19 to compensate businesses and individuals for the cost of stay-at-home orders needed to fight the pandemic and to procure drugs, vaccines and medical supplies.
“In this context, transparency and accountability are more important than ever” said Transparency International Canada Chair and President Susan Côté-Freeman.
Canada’s current position on the CPI is set against a backdrop of longstanding structural issues in addressing foreign bribery and money laundering, or ‘snow washing’ as it is referred to. However, the RCMP opened one new known foreign bribery charge in 2020 following the company, IMEX Systems Inc.’s, cooperation. There were also some promising signs on anti-money laundering that might see results in 2021 including a federal consultation on a public beneficial ownership registry, Québec’s tabled legislation for such a registry, the new BC Land Ownership Transparency Registry, and expanded beneficial ownership reporting requirements.
Canada has work to do to improve its CPI rank, especially in the urgent situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is the time when securing the public’s trust is most important so that government efforts to combat the virus and support Canadians are not undermined,” said TI Canada Executive Director, James Cohen. He continued “All levels of government must also not cut transparency and accountability measures under the guise of reopening the economy. It is transparency, accountability, and integrity that will help Canada build back better.”
About the CPI
The 2020 edition of the CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, drawing on 13 expert assessments and surveys of business executives. It uses a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
Denmark and New Zealand top the index, with 88 points. Syria, Somalia and South Sudan come last, with 14, 12 and 12 points, respectively.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
James Cohen
Executive Director
Transparency International Canada
416-488-3939