A federal registry mandating disclosure of payments to all foreign agents “will provide us with very important tools,” Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said yesterday. Cabinet has yet to set any deadline for introduction of a bill.

“I think Parliament does have a very significant role to play here, a responsibility,” Blair testified at the House affairs committee. “We have already identified and there have been consultations on a foreign agent registry which I think is going to be very important.”

“It will be provide us with very important tools,” said Blair. “We all need to make sure that legislative response to these circumstances is robust and effective but it also has to be done thoughtfully and carefully,” he added.