About foreign influence

What is foreign influence

Foreign influence is an activity carried out by an individual or entity with a foreign principal to influence public decision-making and democratic processes in Canada.

Foreign influence is not new. Governments, organizations, and people around the world, including Canada, regularly engage with foreign counterparts to promote their diplomatic, economic, cultural, and policy interests.

Foreign influence can take many forms. It may involve advocacy, communications, or engagement with public office holders. In many cases, such activities are legitimate, lawful, and transparent, and are a part of normal international relations.

Foreign influence activities that fall outside legitimate advocacy are carried out in a non-transparent way and use covert, deceptive, or coercive means to shape our democratic processes or institutions.

The key features of transparency are openness and clarity.

When foreign influence is conducted transparently, the public can understand the motivations and intent behind these activities. This transparency strengthens trust in democratic institutions.

In Canada, the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act defines what is considered transparent foreign influence and establishes requirements to register foreign influence activities.