Region

Jurisdiction

Regulator

2021-06-11

FINTRAC imposes an administrative monetary penalty on HomeLife Glenayre Realty Chilliwack Ltd.

FINTRAC imposed a $59,235 administrative monetary penalty on HomeLife Glenayre Realty Chilliwack Ltd. for systemic failures to comply with Canada’s anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regulations. The real estate broker was cited for inadequate compliance policies, unassessed financial crime risks, deficient employee training, missing compliance reviews, and improper client record keeping. This enforcement action, finalized in February 2021, reinforces mandatory reporting and record-keeping obligations under 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

June 11, 2021 , Ottawa ON

FINTRAC announced today that it has imposed an administrative monetary penalty on HomeLife Glenayre Realty Chilliwack Ltd. This real estate broker in Chilliwack, British Columbia, was imposed an administrative monetary penalty of $59,235 on February 8, 2021, for non-compliance with Part 1 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and its associated Regulations.

HomeLife Glenayre Realty Chilliwack Ltd. was found to have committed the following violations:

Failure to develop and apply written compliance policies and procedures that sufficiently addressed the requirements for reporting suspicious transactions and terrorist property, as well as client identification and record keeping;

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

Failure to include the frequency and delivery methods in its ongoing training program, as well as how training would be maintained on an ongoing basis;

Failure to institute and document the prescribed review of its compliance policies and procedures, risk assessment and training program; and

Failure to keep all the prescribed information in client information records.

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.