Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OTTAWA1421
2008-11-06 21:17:00
SECRET
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
CANADA FULLY SUPPORTS AND HAS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED
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S E C R E T OTTAWA 001421
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND ISN, T, NEA, INR, EEB, S/CT, AND INL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2018
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL EFIN CA
SUBJECT: CANADA FULLY SUPPORTS AND HAS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED
FATF GUIDANCE ON IRAN
REF: STATE 115523
Classified By: Eric Benjaminson, Minister Counselor for Economic Affair
s, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T OTTAWA 001421
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND ISN, T, NEA, INR, EEB, S/CT, AND INL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2018
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL EFIN CA
SUBJECT: CANADA FULLY SUPPORTS AND HAS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED
FATF GUIDANCE ON IRAN
REF: STATE 115523
Classified By: Eric Benjaminson, Minister Counselor for Economic Affair
s, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Summary. Robert Sample, Senior Project Leader,
Financial Crimes, Finance Canada, said that Canada's current
regulations regarding financial institutions' (FI's)
transactions with Iranian entities are in line with USG and
FATF recommendations and are quite onerous on Canadian
institutions. Sample explained that Canadian laws and
regulations already accomplish most of the preventative
measures outlined in reftel paragraph four. Canada is very
interested in the U.S. proposal for a coordinated G7
statement and looks forward to learning more about this
proposal. End Summary.
2. (S) Sample, upon hearing points in reftel, said Canada
fully supports the FATF statements on Iran. Canada, he said,
hosted the FATF intercessional that accomplished much of the
groundwork for these statements. Sample believes that
Canada's regulations governing financial transactions with
Iranian individuals and entities are more onerous and more
effective than most other regulatory systems, with the
exception of the United States. Canadian law prohibits
financial transactions with specific Iranian individuals and
entities as well as the financing of shipments to Iran of
certain goods. The lists of entities and goods are in line
with relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
Furthermore, Sample said that although Canadian banks
operating in Canada are under no legal obligation to follow
USG due diligence regulations, all of Canada's major banks do
so.
3. (SBU) Canada is sensitive to FATF guidance, according to
Sample, and responds immediately to FATF recommendations. In
February the GOC warned financial institutions of the
increased risk of financial transactions involving Iranian
entities and highlighted the required due diligence. In
response to the FATF statements on October 17 the Office of
the Superintendent of Financial Institutions instructed
Canadian FIs to treat all transactions with Iranian entities
as potentially suspicious.
4. (S) Sample explained that preventive measures A, B, C, D,
and G in reftel are already covered by Canadian laws and
regulations. Referring to measures E and F, Sample said that
Canada would deal with an Iranian Bank or FI request to
establish an office, form a joint venture, or purchase a
controlling stake in an other firm in Canada on a
case-by-case basis. Sample said that anti-money laundering
concerns would be a key issue in any such application and he
does not see how an Iranian institution could clear the
regulatory hurdles for such an application to be approved.
He commented "off the record" that about five years ago
Canada rejected Iranian Bank Melli's application to open a
Canadian subsidiary.
5. (SBU) Canada supports working towards a G7 consensus with
regard to financial sanctions on Iran and looks forward to
learning more about the U.S. proposal for a coordinated
statement on steps taken by G7 countries to implement
preventative measures in response to the FATF statement.
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND ISN, T, NEA, INR, EEB, S/CT, AND INL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2018
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL EFIN CA
SUBJECT: CANADA FULLY SUPPORTS AND HAS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED
FATF GUIDANCE ON IRAN
REF: STATE 115523
Classified By: Eric Benjaminson, Minister Counselor for Economic Affair
s, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Summary. Robert Sample, Senior Project Leader,
Financial Crimes, Finance Canada, said that Canada's current
regulations regarding financial institutions' (FI's)
transactions with Iranian entities are in line with USG and
FATF recommendations and are quite onerous on Canadian
institutions. Sample explained that Canadian laws and
regulations already accomplish most of the preventative
measures outlined in reftel paragraph four. Canada is very
interested in the U.S. proposal for a coordinated G7
statement and looks forward to learning more about this
proposal. End Summary.
2. (S) Sample, upon hearing points in reftel, said Canada
fully supports the FATF statements on Iran. Canada, he said,
hosted the FATF intercessional that accomplished much of the
groundwork for these statements. Sample believes that
Canada's regulations governing financial transactions with
Iranian individuals and entities are more onerous and more
effective than most other regulatory systems, with the
exception of the United States. Canadian law prohibits
financial transactions with specific Iranian individuals and
entities as well as the financing of shipments to Iran of
certain goods. The lists of entities and goods are in line
with relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
Furthermore, Sample said that although Canadian banks
operating in Canada are under no legal obligation to follow
USG due diligence regulations, all of Canada's major banks do
so.
3. (SBU) Canada is sensitive to FATF guidance, according to
Sample, and responds immediately to FATF recommendations. In
February the GOC warned financial institutions of the
increased risk of financial transactions involving Iranian
entities and highlighted the required due diligence. In
response to the FATF statements on October 17 the Office of
the Superintendent of Financial Institutions instructed
Canadian FIs to treat all transactions with Iranian entities
as potentially suspicious.
4. (S) Sample explained that preventive measures A, B, C, D,
and G in reftel are already covered by Canadian laws and
regulations. Referring to measures E and F, Sample said that
Canada would deal with an Iranian Bank or FI request to
establish an office, form a joint venture, or purchase a
controlling stake in an other firm in Canada on a
case-by-case basis. Sample said that anti-money laundering
concerns would be a key issue in any such application and he
does not see how an Iranian institution could clear the
regulatory hurdles for such an application to be approved.
He commented "off the record" that about five years ago
Canada rejected Iranian Bank Melli's application to open a
Canadian subsidiary.
5. (SBU) Canada supports working towards a G7 consensus with
regard to financial sanctions on Iran and looks forward to
learning more about the U.S. proposal for a coordinated
statement on steps taken by G7 countries to implement
preventative measures in response to the FATF statement.
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS