Why a Liberal MP is sponsoring a petition to reconsider foreign agent registry – National | 24CA News
A Liberal MP has sponsored a petition calling on Ottawa to reassess its overseas agent registry plan in what seems to be an uncommon public present of opposition from throughout the caucus to the federal government’s place.
Chandra Arya, an MP for Nepean, Ont., is the sponsor of a petition initiated by a person in Coquitlam, B.C. — a spot greater than 4,000 kilometres away from the driving Arya represents.
The petition opened up for signatures on Friday, asking the federal authorities to rethink its proposed “foreign influence transparency registry.”
Ottawa kicked off public consultations for the registry final month that can run till May.
The authorities says the registry would improve transparency round illegitimate overseas state affect actions. The petition argues {that a} registry is a “misleading way to identify sources of foreign influence.”
“We do not believe … that a foreign influence registry will meaningfully address intimidation of Canadians and other kinds of foreign interference,” the petition states.
In an electronic mail to Global News Saturday, Arya stated he agrees with the considerations expressed by the petitioners.
“There is a legitimate fear among some Canadians, including the Chinese-Canadian community, the proposed registry as a tool in wrong hands can lead to harassment and intimidation of many ethnic minorities in Canada,” he stated.
Registries can require people to formally register with the federal government they’re making an attempt to affect to make such dealings extra clear, with the potential for fines and even jail time for failing to conform. Both Australia and the United States have such packages in place.
Experts have known as for Ottawa to create a Canadian model, particularly in gentle of latest studies from Global News and the Globe and Mail highlighting the alleged efforts of the Chinese authorities to affect Canada’s elections and society.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has known as the registry an “important tool” although not a “silver bullet.”
“I think it’s part of the toolbox that we need to look at, and that’s why the public safety minister is moving forward as we committed to delivering on a public and national foreign influence registry,” he instructed reporters in Newfoundland final month.
The petition says a registry could apply to sure instances, however mustn’t single anyone nation out and shouldn’t be primarily based on nation of origin or ethnicity.
“If a registry is necessary, it should apply to all countries equally and be based on specific arrangements such as monetary payment between individuals or organizations and a foreign state, rather than on hypothetical or presumed arrangements,” it says.
The petition additionally calls for that the registry monitor solely “lobbying government officials and politicians” and never the non-public actions of people.
Lobbying carries a particular definition underneath Canadian regulation and any actions that meet the definition of lobbying are lined by the Lobbying Act, which requires they be publicly registered and disclosed.
According to the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying, lobbying is outlined as actions involving fee by an employer or shopper to speak a couple of listed subject (legislative proposals, payments, resolutions, laws; awarding of grants, contributions or different monetary advantages; insurance policies or packages; awarding of contracts; and arranging a gathering between a public workplace holder and every other individual).
Lobbying doesn’t embrace conditions the place a person makes oral or written submissions to parliamentary committees or proceedings which might be a matter of public report. It additionally doesn’t embrace exchanges between people and public workplace holders in regards to the enforcement, interpretation or software of a regulation or regulation by the accountable public workplace holder, nor does it embrace requests for info to authorities or parliamentarians.
The Lobbying Act has confronted some criticism and suggestions for enchancment over latest years from consultants together with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying who say it doesn’t go far sufficient.
As of Sunday, 336 individuals had signed the petition, which is able to stay open till July 13.
— with recordsdata from Mackenzie Gray, Aaron D’Andrea and The Canadian Press
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