An examination of the information sharing protocols and legislated requirements on the principal federal departments and agencies involved in the anti-money laundering/counter-threat financing (AML/CTF) regime in Canada

Abstract

Quantitative and qualitative assessments were conducted concerning the information sharing protocols and realities between the principal Canadian federal departments and agencies responsible for the prevention, detection, and deterrence of money laundering and threat (terrorist) financing activities. The principal agencies involved in the anti – money laundering / counter – threat financing (AML/CTF) regime are the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Content analysis techniques, in particular Granovetter’s (1973) “strength of weak ties”, and network theory were utilized to develop the theoretical framework used to examine the links (relationships or ties) between the various departments and agencies involved in Canadian AML/CTF regime. Content analysis assessed various pieces of legislation, as well as for example various annual reports of agencies involved in the AML/CTF regime. This research is timely because three important reports relating to the AML/CTF regime in Canada have recently been released; the Final Report of the Air India disaster (which includes a large section on terrorist financing); the Treasury Board mandated 10 Year review of Canada's Anti-Money Laundering / Anti-Terrorist Financing Regime (fiscal year 2010/2011); and the Interim Report of the Special Senate Committee on Anti-terrorism – Security, Freedom And The Complex Terrorist Threat: Positive Steps Ahead. This research and analysis is exploratory in nature.