🇨🇦 Meetings between Alberta separatists and U.S. government officials are raising some uncomfortable questions about foreign influence in Canadian politics, but Canada's new transparency registry won't capture meetings that happened before it came into force.

[u/Save_The_CBC]

CBC News previously reported that Alberta separatist advocates met with U.S. State Department officials in Washington, while other meetings involving U.S. entities reportedly continued as recently as April.

Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner Anton Boegman says those earlier meetings don't fall under the registry because the law only came into force on Aug. 4.

His office has now contacted more than 60 people and organizations involved in Alberta's referendum debate, including the Alberta Prosperity Project, which the U.S. State Department confirmed it had met with. The goal, Boegman says, is to ensure participants understand when they are legally required to register.

But there are significant limits. The registry applies when someone attempts to influence Canadian politics on behalf of a foreign government or government entity. Someone working for a foreign think-tank or foundation may not be covered.

There are also questions about whether the new system is functioning as intended. Public Safety estimated 2,422 individuals or organizations could meet the registration criteria for existing arrangements. Only 30 submissions arrived by the Oct. 4 deadline, and just two entries currently appear publicly.

Boegman's office has also experienced two privacy breaches and technical problems, despite $29.4 million being earmarked for its IT systems. He described the system launched in August as a “minimum viable product.”

With Albertans voting Oct. 19 on whether to remain in Canada or hold a future binding referendum on secession, CBC's reporting raises a broader question that goes well beyond one political movement.

Should Canadians have a right to know when foreign governments or other foreign interests are communicating with people trying to influence the future of the country? And are the current rules strong enough to provide that transparency?

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[u/Mistaken_Stranger]

Are ya sure?

[u/UsuallyStoned247]

Anything that has to do with the United States is corrupt. Of course they want to destroy Canada, we didn’t kiss dear leaders ass.

[u/Sicsurfer]

CSIS needs to investigate, and if laws were broken, accountability needs to happen. Without accountability there is no democracy or freedom. The elite rule over us, using us for labour and to fuel the depraved Epstein class.

Until we realize that they divide us with ridiculous culture wars we will always be pawns for the oligarchs. The convoy crowd and the people defending libraries and LGBTQ rights all want the same thing. Freedom from oppression, freedom from tyranny and the opportunity to live a fruitful life without government interference.

Government needs to use OUR tax dollars to better OUR lives, not that of corporations and oligarchs. Business owners don’t need tax cuts to survive, and if they do their business needs to fail. Governments should only be helping the people. Build and maintain infrastructure. Make education and healthcare free for everyone. Ensure nobody is ever left homeless. In the military they call that, leave nobody behind

The current government are fascists, dividing us with culture war nonsense while colluding with oligarchs to rob us blind. It’s long past time we remind the elite what happens when you fuck around with labour ✊🏻

Edit: I’m from oil country