Region

Jurisdiction

Regulator

2022-03-22

FINTRAC imposes an administrative monetary penalty on Forest Hill Real Estate Inc.

The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) imposed a $22,770 administrative monetary penalty on Toronto-based Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. for violating Canada's anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regulations. The real estate broker was cited for failing to establish comprehensive written compliance policies, assess money laundering risks across its operations, maintain required transaction and corporate records, and properly identify individuals acting on behalf of entities. This enforcement action underscores FINTRAC's commitment to regulatory compliance, as public disclosure of such penalties is mandated following 2019 legislative amendments to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.

Canada

Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre Canada

From:

Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)

News Release

March 22, 2022 , Ottawa ON

FINTRAC announced today that it has imposed an administrative monetary penalty on Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. This real estate broker in Toronto, Ontario, was imposed an administrative monetary penalty of $22,770 on October 28, 2021 for non-compliance with Part 1 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and its associated Regulations.

Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. was found to have committed the following violations:

Failure to develop complete written compliance policies and procedures related to the ongoing monitoring of business relationships;

Failure to assess and document the money laundering or terrorist activity financing risks of its geographic locations, products and delivery channels, and clients and business relationships;

Failure to keep prescribed information in receipt of funds records and corporate records; and

Failure to keep identification information of individuals conducting a transaction on behalf an entity.

Quote

"Canada's Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Regime is in place to protect the safety of Canadians and the security of Canada's economy. FINTRAC is committed to working with businesses to help them understand and comply with their obligations under the Act. At the same time, we will be firm in ensuring that businesses continue to do their part and we will take appropriate actions when they are needed."

Quick Facts

As Canada's financial intelligence unit and anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regulator, FINTRAC ensures that businesses subject to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act comply with their obligations under the Act and its Regulations. The Centre also analyzes information and discloses financial intelligence to police, law enforcement and national security agencies to assist their investigations of money laundering, terrorist activity financing and threats to the security of Canada.

Casinos, financial entities, money services businesses, real estate brokers and sales representatives, and several other business sectors are required under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to keep certain records, identify clients, maintain a compliance regime and report certain financial transactions to FINTRAC.

FINTRAC's Administrative Monetary Penalties program is one of the most open and transparent of its kind, including in relation to penalty calculations.

With the changes to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act in 2019, FINTRAC is required to make public the name of all persons and entities that receive an administrative monetary penalty.