A bill to mandate public records of foreign agents and their payments to lobbyists in federal public office came into discussion in the Senate this week, says Blacklock’s Reporter..The bill was proposed after a former national security advisor gave testimony explaining how Chinese agents posed a clear threat to Canadians..“Foreign influence and interference is real,” said Senator Leo Housakos (Que.), sponsor of Bill S-237 An Act To Establish The Foreign Influence Registry..“It is very much happening right here in Canada. In many cases it can be financial.”.The bill would require all federal lobbyists to be named in a public registry if acting for “.a foreign government, an individual or entity related to a foreign government.”.If agents did not name clients and fees, the penalties could amount to $200,000 fines and two years in prison..Housakos said a public registry “is badly needed,” and “would be the right thing to do.”.“The act will force greater transparency by exposing those who do seek to influence on behalf of foreign regimes our policies, public debates and decision making,” said Housakos..“Why shouldn’t we have a registry?.“Do Canadians not deserve to know who is lobbying their public officials on behalf of foreign entities?”.said Housakos..“Countries like China, countries like Iran, countries like Russia, we have evidence to show they are very active right now within our borders within various institutions.”.Retired director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Richard Fadden, gave testimony May 3, 2021, when he voiced his concerns..Fadden brought attention to the Commons Special Committee on Canada-China relations how Parliament should pay better attention to subterfuge by Chinese agents..“The great difficulty we have in Canada is the general public has trouble understanding that we’re threatened,” said Fadden..“They’re after us, if I can use the vernacular, from a whole variety of perspectives,” said Fadden..“If another country is secretly trying through its agents to influence you or public servants or others, that falls into the rubric of foreign influence, foreign interference.”.In 1938 the United States introduced a Foreign Agents Registration Act requiring the disclosure of agents, which originally intended to track Nazi sympathizers..Australia has its own Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme which began in 2018..“The Australian legislation has a component in it that would require any former cabinet minister who acts on behalf of a foreign entity to register or face sanctions,” said Senator Peter Boehm..Senator Yuen Pau Woo yesterday said Bill S-237 was so broad it would require registration of organizers of sports and cultural exchanges..“China is an authoritarian state,” Woo told the Senate..“You also describe it as tyrannical. I am not sure I would go that far, but it is certainly Leninist.”.“China is a tyrannical state,” replied Senator Housakos..“To stand up and say you take exception to my comments referring to the regime in China as tyrannical is in itself outrageous.”.The debate was adjourned without a second reading vote, Canada still has no accountability system for foreign entities funding lobbyists..Ewa Sudyk is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.esudyk@westernstandardonline.com
