The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that global financial crime auditors interviewed Canadian financial companies and 13 government agencies over three weeks in November.
A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says interviews included executives at Toronto-Dominion Bank, which last year paid the largest-ever fine to settle a criminal U.S. money-laundering case. What would normally be a routine once-a-decade review has caused concerns in Ottawa and in Toronto's financial sector as Canada reckons with TD's $3-billion (U.S.) fine. The visit also coincided with new indictments against fugitive Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged cocaine kingpin Ryan Wedding.
A negative report from the Financial Action Task Force, an international crime watchdog, could hurt Canada's foreign investments and the country's reputation as Prime Minister Mark Carney tries to boost productivity and make the Canadian economy less reliant on the United States.
Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, an organization of law-enforcement agencies, estimates that up to $113-billion is "snow-washed" through anonymous companies in Canada each year, up to 5 per cent of Canada's economy. FATF's results will not be known until June, 2026.
© 2026 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.