Foreign Influence Transparency Registry
Overview
On August 4, 2026, the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act (“FITAA”) came into force, establishing the Office of the Foreign Influence Commissioner of Canada (“Commissioner’s Office”) and the public Foreign Influence Transparency Registry (“FITR”).
FITAA requires that individuals and organizations in an arrangement with a foreign principal conducting activities to influence Canadian governmental or political processes register with the Foreign Influence Transparency Registry. The deadline to register an arrangement that meets the registration criteria is 14 days from the start of the arrangement.
FITAA applies to all sectors, including post-secondary institutions, and aims to increase transparency on foreign influence activities in the Canadian democratic process.
UCalgary members are asked to reach out to the UCalgary FITR Compliance Team first to determine if they need to register their arrangement or to answer any questions.
Contact us
For support and questions about the new Foreign Influence Transparency Registry, contact the Research Security, Ethics and Compliance team at
fitr@ucalgary.ca
Who needs to register?
Registration is required if all three conditions are met:
See the UCalgary Definitions Information Sheet or the Government of Canada interpretation bulletins for further information about how these terms are defined.
I am a UCalgary member in an arrangement with a foreign principal that involves influence activities. How can I register or submit changes?
New Arrangements:
If you or your group are in an arrangement subject to the registration requirement, please contact the UCalgary FITR Compliance Office at fitr@ucalgary.ca.
The UCalgary FITR Compliance Office will review your arrangement to determine if it appears to meet the registration criteria. If so, you will be provided with either an Individual or Organizational registration form.
The UCalgary FITR Compliance Office can submit the arrangement details into the Government of Canada’s Foreign Influence Transparency Registry and facilitate communications on your behalf. Alternatively, you can submit the registration yourself. The Commissioner’s Office will review and validate the submission before publishing the registrable information in the public registry. The UCalgary FITR Compliance Office will also facilitate any communication between the registrant and the Commissioner’s Office during the validation process.
Updates or Changes to Arrangements:
Any updates or changes to arrangements that have already been submitted must be reported within 14 days of the change. Please contact the UCalgary FITR Compliance Office if there are changes to your arrangement. The Office can submit the update on your behalf or advise you on how to do so.
Key dates and reporting timelines
The Government of Canada has established several key dates and timelines under the new registry requirements:.
Updates to registered information – Changes to registered information must be submitted within 14 days after the change occurs.
What if I don’t register my arrangement?
An individual or an organization commits a violation or an offence under the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act if:
- they are obligated to register, but do not register on time
- they do not update their information as required
- they provide false or misleading information to the Commissioner
If an individual or organization is found in violation of the Act, they may be subject to an administrative monetary penalty ranging from $250 to $1 million.
The Commissioner will also report publicly on each violation, including the person's name, the violation, and the amount of the penalty issued by the Commissioner.
Resources
From the UCalgary FITR Compliance Office:
Frequently Asked Questions - October 2026 NEW
Definitions Information Sheet NEW
From the Government of Canada:
Office of the Foreign Influence Commissioner of Canada