Berlin, Thursday 19 April – Just over two years since the Panama Papers revealed widespread use of anonymous shell companies to facilitate corruption and financial crime, governments in the world’s largest economies are still moving too slowly to ensure that citizens and law enforcement can find out who really owns companies operating within their borders.

On Tuesday, March 27, Transparency International Canada Senior Advisor, Anti-Money Laundering/Beneficial Ownership Transparency, Denis Meunier, testified before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. Mr. Meunier spoke on behalf of TI Canada to provide insight on the government’s review of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA).

‘Offshore tax havens set to overtake Canada in corporate transparency’– The Star (18/05/06)

‘A special adviser will help RCMP tackle B.C.’s ‘infamous’ money laundering industry’– National Post (18/05/03)

‘Transparency International report slams Canada’– CKNW (18/05/03)

Canada needs to be more courageous in fighting snow washing by matching commitments from international partners such as the U.K. and E.U.

Canada once again ranks as one of the world’s least corrupt countries according to Transparency International’s 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index. But, the CPI tells only part of the story. The golden halo should not blind you from the dirty sheets being aired.

Federal provincial agreement on corporate ownership transparency a big step forward but needs to go further.

At the beginning of 2017, Transparency International ranked Canada 9 out of 176 on the 2016 Corruption Perception Index. Taking this International Anti-Corruption Day to reflect on 2017, this year revealed that Canada’s top CPI position can make the country a target if we do not remain vigilant against corruption, particularly beneficial ownership transparency.

In the past week Transparency International Canada and our partner organizations have been making continued strides towards establishing a centralized public registry of beneficial ownership in Canada.

On November 17, Transparency International Canada (TI Canada) submitted reports in response to Public Services and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) open consultation between September 25 and November 17, 2017 on integrity regimes and deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs).

Dr. Wes Cragg very sadly died, on August 26, after an illness detected only a few months ago. Bronwyn Best, former Senior Advisor to TI-Canada, and Laurence Cockcroft of TI (UK) offer this appreciation of his work for the struggle against corruption and, in particular, for TI.

Toronto – Today, Finance Minister Morneau announced the Federal Government’s call for consultation on ‘Tax Planning Using Private Corporations’. This consultation follows Minister Morneau’s recent public statement that recognizes that anonymous beneficial ownership of corporations are harming Canada by allowing the flow of dirty money domestically and from overseas.

The First Ministers will be gathering in Edmonton at the annual meeting of the Council of the Federation on July 17-19, 2017. The issue of who owns our corporations and trusts needs to be a priority on their agenda.