The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions has published a revised guideline setting out its expectations for federally regulated financial institutions establishing policies and procedures to combat money laundering.

In addition to banks and other deposit-takers, the guideline now also include life companies. The guideline has also been modified to reflect several developments that have taken place since it was issued in September 1996. Key among these developments was the passage of a “new” Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) Act in July 2000.

The new Act expanded transaction record keeping and reporting requirements and established the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada. The scope of this Act was further expanded in December 2001 to address the financing of terrorist activities.

OSFI has shifted the focus of the guideline to the identification and mitigation of risks related to money laundering. Given the role to be played by FINTRAC, much of the material related to transaction identification and reporting has been removed.

Comments on the new guideline are due by July 19.