Ottawa, December 9, 2013 – The United Nations designated December 9, as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise public awareness on the role of law enforcement agencies and their partners, in support of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
In Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is responsible for investigating international corruption of foreign public officials, by Canadian companies and individuals. Naturally, the RCMP also investigates domestic cases of corruption and fraud as do other Canadian police of jurisdiction, often in partnership together.
Since the introduction of the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA) in 2007, the RCMP has had a number of notable successes that have resulted in millions of dollars in fines. "International Anti-Corruption Day remains an excellent opportunity for us to re-iterate our commitment to continue investigating bribery of foreign public officials abroad" said Assistant Commissioner of Federal policing Special Services, Todd Shean. During summer of 2013, Canada passed further legislation to strengthen this law to make it stronger with harsher penalties and expanded jurisdiction.
In November 2013, United National officials concluded that Canada has surpassed its obligations to the United Nations Convention against Corruption following a weeklong meeting in late October 2013 in Ottawa, with an on-site anti-corruption peer review with legal experts from Switzerland and Iraq.
Prompted by increased publicity worldwide on the fight against corruption, Canadian companies continue to establish proactive anti-corruption programmes to educate their employees in awareness, prevention and even to encourage whistleblowing. Many corporate websites now include links to their anti-corruption efforts. The RCMP has been encouraging awareness of the strengthened laws as part of their crime prevention efforts.
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