PEP (Politically Exposed Person)

A politically exposed person (PEP) or the head of an international organization (HIO) is a person entrusted with a prominent position that typically comes with the opportunity to influence decisions and the ability to control resources. A PEP can be either ‘Foreign’ or ‘Domestic’.

1. Foreign PEP: a person (or family member or close associate of a person) who holds or has held one of the following offices or positions in or on behalf of a foreign country:
   • head of a foreign state or government;
   • member of the executive council of government or member of a legislature of a foreign government;
   • deputy minister or equivalent rank;
   • ambassador or attaché or counselor 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 foreign supreme court, constitutional court, or another court of last resort;
   • leader or president of a political party represented in a foreign legislature; or
   • holder of any foreign prescribed office or position.
2. Head of an International Organization (HIO): a person (or family members or close associates of a person) who within the last 5 years holds or has held the office or position of head of:
   • an international organization that is established by the governments of states;
   • an institution of an international organization that is established by the governments of states; or
   • an international sports organization.
3. A Domestic PEP: a person (or a family member or close associate of a person) who holds – or has held within the last 5 years – one of the following offices or positions in or on behalf of the Canadian federal government, a Canadian provincial government, or a Canadian municipal government holds one of these offices/positions:
   • Governor-General, lieutenant governor, or head of government;
   • member of the Senate or House of Commons or member of a legislature of a province;
   • deputy minister or equivalent rank;
   • ambassador, or attaché or counselor of an ambassador;
   • a 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;
   • holder of any prescribed office or position; or
   • mayor, reeve, or other similar chief officer of a municipal or local government.
4. Family member means a PEP or a HIO's:
   • child
   • parent
   • parent's child
   • spouse or common-law partner
   • spouse's or common-law partner's parent
5. Close associate means a person closely connected to a senior official or an HIO for personal (social) or business (professional) reasons.