OTTAWA – Canada’s new foreign influence registry has posted its first three registrants.
Among them is The Canada Files, a self-described socialist news organization covering Canadian foreign policy, which disclosed a paid arrangement with a Chinese state broadcaster to publish two sponsored videos intended to make Canadians more supportive of China’s handling of its domestic political affairs. Britain’s media regulator has found the broadcaster ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.
The sponsored material promotes China’s approach to human rights and presents a favorable account of Chinese development in Tibet.
In its introduction to one video, The Canada Files praises poverty reduction and argues that protecting human rights does not require Western-style democratic elections. Its description of the other, following a Quebec man’s journey to Tibet, highlights Chinese government railway investment that it says has created economic opportunities for local young people.
Eighteen days after the arrangement concluded, The Canada Files published another article criticizing Tibetan exile organizations’ influence on Canadian parliamentarians and highlighting their funding from the National Endowment for Democracy, which it described as a “CIA-front.”
The Ontario-based company listed compensation of 4,000 Chinese yuan, approximately $823, for an arrangement running from August 5 to August 13, 2026. It identified CGTN Français as the foreign principal.
The stated objective was “To have more Canadians be supportive of China’s management of its domestic political affairs.”
The filing identifies two sponsored productions: “Prospérité partagée, dignité garantie : la vision chinoise des droits de l’homme,” a video explainer published August 11, and “Papa, ce train va à Lasa !,” a documentary published August 13.
CGTN Français is the French-language service of China Global Television Network.
In a 2021 licensing decision, Britain’s broadcast regulator, Ofcom, documented CGTN Corporation’s ownership through China Central Television and ultimate control by the Chinese Communist Party. Ofcom revoked CGTN’s British broadcast license after finding the license holder lacked editorial responsibility, and rejected a proposed transfer to CGTN Corporation on grounds including political control.
In a separate enforcement action announced in March 2021, Ofcom fined the former license holder £100,000 over broadcasts featuring British investigator Peter Humphrey, who had been detained in China. The reports, aired by CGTN’s predecessor, CCTV News, showed Humphrey appearing to confess to a criminal offense and apologizing. Humphrey said the confession was forced. Ofcom found that the broadcasts had treated him unfairly and unjustifiably infringed his privacy.
In its September 13 article on opposition to Mark Carney’s investment summit, The Canada Files highlighted plans for a rally at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square on September 14 under the slogan “Confront Carney’s CEO Summit.” The article said Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s “Fortress Am-Can” plan would leave Canada a “servile errand boy to US imperialism.”
The registry opened to filings on August 4, 2026. As of September 15, it listed three registrants.