Faith discusses the “bite” of Canada’s anti-corruption laws

Toronto lawyer Andrew Faith, partner with Polley Faith LLP talks to Law Times about anti-corruption law and the very fine line between facilitation and bribes.   

“You often see, through the due-diligence process, sums of money paid inexplicably. There may be transfers of funds or benefits to people in government in a foreign country. That’s what the legislation is designed to address: North American companies assisting in the corruption of public officials abroad and benefiting from that. Now the government is getting better and smarter at enforcing the [act]. They are combating that very effectively,” says Faith, in a story about recent arrests under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act reflecting a new get-serious attitude by law enforcers.

Faith adds that: “The act excludes facilitation payments to government officials that help to speed up the thing they are already supposed to be doing.”  Read Law Times Story