Foreign Influence Transparency Act Comes into Force

Summary#

This Order (SI/2026-31) fixes August 4, 2026 as the day Part 4 of the Countering Foreign Interference Act comes into force, with some exceptions. It brings most of the new Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act rules into effect, while leaving a few specific provisions out of force for now.

What it does#

• Fixes August 4, 2026 as the coming-into-force date for Part 4 of the Countering Foreign Interference Act, except it does not bring into force:
  • paragraphs (c) and (d) of the definition of “public office holder” (section 2), and
  • paragraph 4(c) of the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act.
• Brings into effect rules that:
  • create the office of the Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner;
  • require people and organizations to report certain arrangements with foreign principals that aim to influence political or governmental processes in Canada;
  • require the Commissioner to keep a publicly accessible registry of those arrangements; and
  • give the Commissioner tools to investigate and enforce the rules, including an administrative monetary penalty scheme and criminal offences.
• Applies the new reporting and registry rules to activities aimed at federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal political or government processes.

Who's affected#

• Individuals, companies, and organizations that enter into agreements with foreign principals to try to influence political or government decisions in Canada at the federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal level.
• The newly created Office of the Foreign Influence Commissioner of Canada and anyone who must report to it.
• Not covered (for now): arrangements directed at members or staff of band councils, aboriginal governments or institutions, or entities authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group — those requirements were left out of force by this Order.

Why it matters#

• People or groups doing influence work on behalf of foreign actors will generally need to register those arrangements and put information in a public registry.
• There is a short registration timing rule: failing to register can be an offence if the required information is not provided within 14 days of entering an arrangement.
• The change is meant to increase transparency about who is trying to influence Canadian political and government processes and to deter harmful foreign interference.
• The Order leaves some Indigenous-related provisions out of force, so those influence activities are not covered until a later decision brings those parts into effect.