FINTRAC imposes an administrative monetary penalty on Nu Stream Realty Inc.

News Release

July 12, 2022, Ottawa Ontario

FINTRAC announced today that it has imposed an administrative monetary penalty on Nu Stream Realty Inc. This real estate broker in Burnaby, British Columbia, was imposed an administrative monetary penalty of $230,423 on April 6, 2022 for non-compliance with Part 1 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and its associated Regulations.

Nu Stream Realty Inc. was found to have committed the following violations:

• Failure to submit a suspicious transaction report where there were reasonable grounds to suspect that transactions were related to a money laundering offence;
• Failure to ensure that the appointed person was responsible for implementing a compliance program;
• Failure to consistently apply compliance policies and procedures related to record-keeping and third party determination;
• 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 institute and document a review, every two years, to assess the effectiveness of its policies and procedures, risk assessment and training program;
• Failure to keep all prescribed information in receipt of funds records and in client information records; and
• Failure to keep all prescribed identification 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.”Sarah Paquet, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada

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.