No spike in 'suspicious' transaction reporting amid trucker convoy protests: financial intelligence expert

The deputy director of intelligence at Canada’s financial intelligence agency says he hasn’t seen a spike in “suspicious” transaction reporting amid concerns about the sources of funds pouring in for the “Freedom Convoy.”

Barry MacKillop of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) said while crowdfunding sites being used to support the trucker protests aren’t covered under the agency’s mandate, when money flows through entities that are, questionable transactions would be flagged.

“I can’t speak to specific reporting or reporting on any individuals or organizations but we have not seen a spike in suspicious transaction reporting, for example, related to this,” he said Thursday.

MacKillop was appearing before the House public safety and national security committee studying how to prevent the promotion of “extremism, white supremacy, antisemitism and other forms of hate, which have been expressed among prominent organizers for the truck convoy currently in Ottawa” on GoFundMe and other crowdfunding platforms.

Questions have mounted in recent days about the scale and origin of support for the “Freedom Convoy,” which has set up protests and blockades in various locations across Canada protesting all COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions.

More than $10 million was raised for the convoy on GoFundMe’s platform before it closed its doors on the campaign, citing concerns with its objectives. GoFundMe will appear before the committee on March 3 to testify about its involvement in hosting the fundraising campaign.

The convoy has since turned to Christian website GiveSendGo as its primary financing platform, where it has raised more than US$8.4 million.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said on Monday that Canada has a “robust” intelligence community that will flag to the government concerns of national security through foreign funding or otherwise.

“That’s why I’m certainly confident that wherever there’s foul play of the sort, that we’ll be in a position to act appropriately,” said Mendicino.

FINTRAC facilitates the detection, prevention, and deterrence of money laundering and the financing of terrorist activities in Canada. It’s not a law enforcement or investigative agency.

It oversees the compliance of financial entities, casinos, money service businesses, real estate and others.

“Crowdfunding sites are not a regulated business sector under the act. However, when these sites transit with or through businesses subject to the Proceeds of Crime and Terrorist Financing Act, these financial transactions would be covered,” MacKillop said.

Asked whether crowdfunding sites should be covered under the act, MacKillop said the agency is always open to modernizing its approach.

“It’s really a balance that needs to be struck between the desire to have the most amount of intel possible...and the respect of individual privacy,” he said, speaking in French.

“We’re always looking at sectors that could improve our current regime.”

He explained that while many donors to the trucker convoy movement have listed themselves as “anonymous,” to make a donation people have to provide personal and payment information, which is collected by money service businesses such as Paypal and Stripe.

The committee voted on Thursday to build on its study into GoFundMe to include the rise of ideologically-motivated violent extremism and the influence of foreign and domestic actors in funding and supporting violent extremist ideologies in Canada.

Paypal, Stripe, and GiveSendGo have been invited to testify.

GiveSendGo does not publish the location of its donors, only the amount donated, the name of the donor – whether anonymous or otherwise – and optional donor comments.

In its terms and conditions, the company says it does not permit campaigns on its platform that raise funds for illegal activities, or those that cause harm to people or property.

CTVNews.ca requested a statement from GiveSendGo about their response to blockades at several border bridges, given local laws that make it an offence to block critical infrastructure. At the time of publication, no response had been given.

Meanwhile at the House foreign affairs committee, NDP MP and foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson has given notice of a motion to invite U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen to appear before members regarding American influence in supporting the movement.

The motion will be voted on on Monday.