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Definitions of Persons of Special Interest
FOREIGN POLITICALLY EXPOSED PERSON
A foreign PEP is a person who holds or has held one of the following offices or positions in or on behalf of a foreign state:
- Head of state or head of government;
- Member of the executive council of government or member of a legislature;
- Deputy minister or equivalent rank;
- Ambassador, or attaché or counsellor of an ambassador;
- Military officer with a rank of general or above;
- President of a state-owned company or a state-owned bank;
- Head of a government agency;
- Judge of a supreme court, constitutional court or other court of last resort; or
- Leader or president of a political party represented in a legislature.
These persons are foreign PEPs regardless of citizenship, residence status or birth place. A person determined to be a foreign PEP, is forever a foreign PEP.
Family Members and Close Associates
A family member of a PEP is defined as:
- Their spouse or common-law partner;
- Their child;
- Their mother or father;
- The mother or father of their spouse or common-law partner (mother-in-law or father-in-law);
- A child of their mother or father (brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister).
A close associate may be an individual who is closely connected to a PEP for personal or business reasons. For example:
- Business partners;
- Romantic relationships;
- Prominent members of the same political party or union;
- Members of the same Board;
- Carrying out charitable works together.
DOMESTIC POLITICALLY EXPOSED PERSON
A domestic PEP is a person who holds, or has held within the last 5 years, a specific office or position in or on behalf of the Canadian federal government, a Canadian provincial government, or a Canadian municipal government:
- Governor General, lieutenant governor or head of government;
- Member of the Senate or House of Commons or member of a legislature;
- Deputy minister or equivalent rank;
- Ambassador, or attaché or counsellor of an ambassador;
- Military officer with a rank of general or above;
- President of a corporation that is wholly owned directly by Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province;
- Head of a government agency;
- Judge of an appellate court in a province, the Federal Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court of Canada;
- Leader or president of a political party represented in a legislature; or
- Mayor*.
* In line with legislation across Canada, municipal governments include cities, towns, villages and rural (county) or metropolitan municipalities. As such, a mayor is the head of a city, town, village, or rural or metropolitan municipality, regardless of the size of the population.
A person ceases to be a domestic PEP 5 years after they have left office.
City counsellors are not considered DPEPs at this time.
Family Members and Close Associates
A family member of a PEP is defined as:
- Their spouse or common-law partner;
- Their child;
- Their mother or father;
- The mother or father of their spouse or common-law partner (mother-in-law or father-in-law);
- A child of their mother or father (brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister).
A close associate may be an individual who is closely connected to a PEP for personal or business reasons. For example:
- Business partners;
- Romantic relationships;
- Prominent members of the same political party or union;
- Members of the same Board;
- Carrying out charitable works together.
HEAD OF AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
The head of an international organization is a person who is either:
- The head of an international organization established by the governments of states; or
- The head of an institution established by an international organization.
When we refer to the head of an international organization or the head of an institution established by an international organization we are referring to the primary person who leads that organization, for example a president or CEO.
Family Members and Close Associates
A family member of a HIO is defined as:
- Their spouse or common-law partner;
- Their child;
- Their mother or father;
- The mother or father of their spouse or common-law partner (mother-in-law or father-in-law);
- A child of their mother or father (brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister).
A close associate may be an individual who is closely connected to a HIO for personal or business reasons. For example:
- Business partners;
- Romantic relationships;
- Prominent members of the same political party or union;
- Members of the same Board;
- Individuals carrying out charitable works together.