Toronto, ON (November 2, 2018) – On Thursday, November 1st, 2018, Radio-Canada aired on its investigative program “Enquête” a report on how superficial the security checks have been on owners of companies that produce and distribute cannabis.

Transparency International Canada and Canadians for Tax Fairness have made a joint submission in response the Government of British Columbia’s open call for consultations on a proposed Land Owner Transparency Act.

Canada has fallen from ‘Moderate’ to ‘Limited’ enforcement of the Corruption of Foreign and Public Officials Act, placing it at the back of the pack of OECD countries on foreign bribery enforcement as highlighted in a new Transparency International’s Exporting Corruption Report 2018: Assessing Enforcement of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention (linked here).

Toronto, ON (June 13, 2018) – On Tuesday, June 5th, 2018, the Senate of Canada approved several amendments to the Cannabis Bill (Bill C-45) that have now been referred to the House of Commons for consideration. One of these amendments would require that names of individuals who directly or indirectly own or control the corporations or trusts holding a licence or permit for cannabis production be made public.

Transparency International Canada followed up on its testimony to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, by providing formal submissions on the government’s review of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to Hon. Wayne Easter, Chair, Standing Committee on Finance, and to Ms. Lisa Pezzack, Director General, Financial Systems Division, Financial Sector Policy Branch, at the Department of Finance.

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.