The Government of Canada’s Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act
Background
On August 4, 2026, new legal requirements related to the Government of Canada’s Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act (FITAA) came into force. FITAA requires individuals and organizations to register, with the FITAA Commissioner, certain arrangements with foreign principals that seek to influence Canadian political or governmental processes.
The stated purpose in Section 3 of FITAA is:
- to ensure that persons who, under an arrangement, carry out activities in relation to a political or governmental process in Canada do so in a transparent manner
- to deter foreign principals from making efforts to influence political or governmental processes in Canada in a non-transparent manner;
- to raise public awareness of efforts by foreign principals to influence political or governmental processes in Canada; and
- to strengthen national security.
The information below is meant to raise awareness of registration requirements so that members of the UBC community can determine whether FITAA impacts them.
Additional guidance that is tailored to the academic sector is expected from the Commissioner’s office.
What are FITAA’s registration requirements?
FITAA requires persons to register with the FITAA Commissioner if they have entered into an arrangement wherein they undertake to carry out, under the direction of or in association with a foreign principal, any of the following activities in relation to a political or governmental process in Canada:
- communicating with a public office holder;
- communicating or disseminating or causing to be communicated or disseminated by any means, including social media, information that is related to the political or governmental process; and
- distributing money or items of value or providing a service or the use of a facility.
Which activities does FITAA apply to?
FITAA applies to activities influencing all levels of government in Canada, including municipal, provincial, and territorial. Certain activities involving Indigenous government processes can also be covered.
It applies to both existing and new activities; arrangements that existed before August 4 must be submitted for registration by October 3, 2026. New foreign arrangements beginning after August 4 must be registered within 14 calendar days.
An anonymous self-assessment tool has been created by the Commissioner’s Office to help to determine whether activities need to be registered.
Who is responsible for registration?
Responsibility for registration lies with the entity entering into an arrangement with a foreign principal. This means individuals are responsible for registering their own foreign arrangements.
Where do I get more information?
The Office of the Foreign Influence Commissioner of Canada has created new guidance, FAQs, a step-by-step guide, and an online questionnaire to support stakeholders in understanding these new requirements. Additional guidance that is tailored to the academic sector is expected from the Commissioner’s office.
If you have questions about registration requirements or FITAA and whether they impact you, please contact the Office of the Foreign Influence Commissioner of Canada at info@influencecanada.gc.ca.
Additional questions can be directed to government.relations@ubc.ca