NATIONAL STRATEGY TO INTERNATIONALIZE EFFORTS

UNCLAS OTTAWA 002977 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS TO P, E, AND WHA/CAN TREASURY FOR UNDER SECRETARY LEVEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCOR ECON EAID EINV PGOV KCRM CA SUBJECT: NATIONAL STRATEGY TO INTERNATIONALIZE EFFORTS AGAINST KLEPTOCRACY: CANADA REF: A. STATE 157558 ¶B. STATE 131554 ¶1. (U) On September 29, Economic Minister-Counselor discussed ref A demarche with Sarah Taylor, Director, Development Policy and Institutions Division, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) and with Glynnis French, Deputy Director, Strategies and Partnerships Sector, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). The political section also shared the demarche with Jennifer Irish, Deputy Director, International Crime and Terrorism Division, DFAIT. FINTRAC is the Canadian Government agency which receives, analyzes, assesses and discloses financial intelligence on suspected money laundering, terrorist financing, and threats to Canada's security. It is an integral part of Canada's commitment to fight money laundering and terrorist activity financing. ¶2. (SBU) Our interlocutors appreciated receiving reftel's information on how the U.S. is carrying out the work of the St. Petersburg Summit, including the President's National Strategy. They said that Canada fully supports U.S. and international efforts against corruption because it diverts money from helping local populations, fosters crime, diminishes the effectiveness of aid, and corrodes governance. The FINTRAC official told us that the Harper government will introduce legislation in Parliament within the next few weeks to expand the agency's responsibilities and resources to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. The Embassy will report this in more detail once information becomes available. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa WILKINS