Take Action — What You Can Do Right Now

Section 01

File a Private Prosecution (Criminal Code s.504)

Any Canadian citizen can lay a criminal charge. This is not a fringe legal theory — it is a constitutional right enshrined in the Criminal Code of Canada. Section 504 allows any person who believes on reasonable grounds that a person has committed an indictable offence to lay an Information before a Justice of the Peace.

Identify the offence

Use the Criminal Code Analysis to see all 42+ charges mapped to specific Criminal Code sections. Each finding identifies the statute, the entity, and the evidence. Start with the charges most relevant to your community.
Gather your evidence

Review the Evidence Index and Criminal Code Analysis for publicly sourced documentation. You need facts, dates, names, and sources. All evidence on this site comes from Hansard, committee testimony, Commissioner of Lobbying records, and news reporting.
Consult a lawyer

Legal counsel is strongly recommended. Legal aid may cover public interest cases. Pro bono organizations (listed in Section 7 below) can help. A lawyer will ensure your Information meets the legal threshold.
Draft an Information

An Information is a sworn written statement of facts. It must identify the accused, describe the offence, cite the Criminal Code section, and state the reasonable grounds for belief. Your lawyer can help draft this to the standard required by the court.
Attend before a Justice of the Peace

Go to your local provincial courthouse. Bring your drafted Information, your evidence package, and valid government ID. You will swear or affirm the Information before a Justice of the Peace. Dress formally. Be prepared to answer questions about your grounds.
The Justice decides

The Justice of the Peace will review your Information and decide whether to issue process — either a summons (ordering the accused to appear) or a warrant (for arrest). The Crown may later review the case and decide whether to take it over, stay it, or allow it to proceed.

Constitutional right, not fringe theory: Private prosecution under s.504 has been used successfully in Canada in environmental, fraud, and public interest cases. The Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed that any person may lay an Information. The Attorney General retains the right to intervene, but must provide reasons.

What to bring to the courthouse

Your drafted Information (typed, formal language)
Supporting evidence package (printed, organized, indexed)
Government-issued photo ID
Contact information for your lawyer (if represented)
A calm, factual demeanour — this is a legal proceeding

Which courthouse?

Attend the Ontario Court of Justice (or your provincial equivalent) in the jurisdiction where the offence occurred, or where the accused resides. If the offence occurred in Ottawa (Parliament, lobbying, government contracts), the Ottawa courthouse at 161 Elgin Street handles these matters.

Section 02

File Complaints with Regulators

Canada has multiple independent officers of Parliament who investigate government misconduct. Each has a specific mandate. File with the right body for the right issue. You can file with more than one.

Lobbying violations

Commissioner of Lobbying

File a complaint about undisclosed lobbying, failure to register, or lobbying by former designated public office holders within the cooling-off period.

Online: lobbycanada.gc.ca — File a Complaint
Phone: 613-957-2760
Email: QuestionsLobbying@ocl-cal.gc.ca

MP conflicts of interest

Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

File a complaint about Members of Parliament who have failed to disclose conflicts, accepted improper gifts, or used their office for private benefit.

Online: ciec-ccie.parl.gc.ca — Complaint Process
Phone: 613-995-0721
Note: Only sitting MPs can formally request an investigation under the Conflict of Interest Code, but any citizen can write to the Commissioner with concerns.

Election finance violations

Commissioner of Canada Elections

Report violations of the Canada Elections Act, including illegal contributions, spending violations, foreign funding, and failure to report.

Online: cef-cce.gc.ca — Report a Concern
Phone: 1-800-463-6868
Complaints can be filed anonymously.

Criminal activity by officials

RCMP

Report criminal activity by government officials, including fraud, breach of trust, and corruption. The RCMP Federal Policing division handles these cases.

Online: rcmp-grc.gc.ca — Report Financial Crime
Phone: 1-800-771-5401 (National Security Information Network)
For urgent matters: Contact your local RCMP detachment directly.

Section 03

Contact Your MP

Your Member of Parliament works for you. They are required to respond to constituent correspondence. A well-written letter from a constituent carries more weight than most people realize.

Check your MP's record first: Use the MP Scorecard to see how your MP scores against lobbying data, CIJA contacts, and investigation flags before you write. Know who you are writing to.

Editable template — customize and send

Dear [Your MP's Name],

I am writing as your constituent in [Your Riding] regarding matters of urgent public interest that I believe require your attention and action in Parliament.

1. FITAA PROCLAMATION: The Federal-International Trade Accountability Act received Royal Assent but has never been proclaimed into force. I am asking you to raise this in the House and demand a timeline for proclamation. Canadians deserve transparency in trade agreements that affect our sovereignty.

2. LOBBYING REFORM: The Commissioner of Lobbying's records show a pattern of undisclosed contacts between registered lobbyists and government officials. I am asking you to support legislation requiring real-time disclosure of all lobbying contacts, not quarterly reports filed months after the fact.

3. CFNIS OVERSIGHT: The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service operates without independent civilian oversight. Military members who report misconduct have no protected channel. I am asking you to support the creation of an independent Military Whistleblower Protection Act equivalent to US 10 U.S.C. Section 1034.

I expect a substantive written response addressing each of these three points. I will be following up and sharing your response publicly as part of my civic engagement.

Respectfully,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Postal Code]

Find your MP's contact information

Visit ourcommons.ca/members to find your MP by postal code. Every MP has a constituency office, a Parliament Hill office, a phone number, and an email address. Postal mail to Parliament Hill does not require postage.

Section 04

File a Parliamentary Petition

E-petitions on ourcommons.ca are official parliamentary instruments. If a petition reaches 500 signatures, the government is legally required to table a response within 45 calendar days. This is one of the most underused tools in Canadian democracy.

Visit the e-petitions page

Go to petitions.ourcommons.ca to view open petitions or start a new one.
Find an MP to sponsor

Every e-petition needs an MP sponsor. Use the MP Scorecard to identify MPs with clean records who may be willing to sponsor accountability petitions.
Draft and submit

The petition must be addressed to the Government of Canada, House of Commons, or a specific Minister. It must state a clear request. Keep it factual and specific.

The 5 "Cage" Policies That Need Petition Support

These are the five structural failures identified across the investigation. Each one requires legislative action.

P1

Proclaim the FITAA

The Federal-International Trade Accountability Act received Royal Assent but was never proclaimed into force. Demand proclamation.

P2

Real-Time Lobbying Disclosure

Replace quarterly lobbying reports with real-time public disclosure of all lobbying contacts within 48 hours.

P3

Military Whistleblower Protection Act

Create independent civilian oversight of CFNIS and protected channels for military members who report misconduct.

P4

Foreign Agent Registry

Establish a mandatory registry for agents of foreign principals operating in Canada, with criminal penalties for non-compliance.

P5

Independent Prosecution Authority

Remove the Attorney General's ability to stay private prosecutions without published reasons. Ensure accountability when the Crown declines to act.

Section 05

Contact Media

Investigative journalism is the force multiplier. Regulators move faster when media is watching. Politicians respond to constituents who are also talking to reporters. A well-placed media tip can trigger the coverage that makes institutions act.

Investigative outlets

Where to send tips

CBC The Fifth Estate — cbc.ca/fifth/contact — Canada's premier investigative journalism program
The Globe and Mail Investigations — theglobeandmail.com/about/contact — Tips to the investigations desk
Toronto Star Investigations — thestar.com/about/contact
National Post — nationalpost.com/contact
The Tyee — thetyee.ca — Independent investigative journalism (BC-based, national reach)
Global News Investigations — globalnews.ca/pages/contact-us

Media tip template — customize and send

SUBJECT: Tip — Documented lobbying/conflict-of-interest pattern involving Canadian officials

To the Investigations Desk,

I am writing to bring your attention to a body of publicly sourced evidence documenting a pattern of potential Criminal Code violations by Canadian government officials and organizations.

The evidence has been compiled from:
- Commissioner of Lobbying records (547,000+ contacts)
- Parliamentary Hansard and committee testimony
- Elections Canada filings
- Public court records

The investigation identifies 42+ potential charges mapped to specific Criminal Code sections including breach of trust (s.122), fraud on government (s.121), and foreign interference provisions.

All evidence and analysis is publicly available at: https://tenet-5.github.io

Key pages for your review:
- Criminal Code Analysis: https://tenet-5.github.io/criminal-code-analysis.html
- Evidence Index: https://tenet-5.github.io/evidence.html
- MP Scorecard: https://tenet-5.github.io/mp-scorecard.html
- Lobbying Tracker: https://tenet-5.github.io/lobbying-tracker.html

I am available to discuss this further at your convenience.

[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]

Section 06

Share This Investigation

Every share puts this evidence in front of someone who might act on it. A journalist, a lawyer, an MP's staffer, a fellow citizen. The social media buttons at the top of every page share the current page with a single click. Here are the pages that have the most impact when shared.

Tip for maximum impact: When sharing on social media, tag your MP, tag journalists, and use hashtags relevant to the specific issue (lobbying reform, military oversight, foreign interference). A direct tag is harder to ignore than a general post.

Section 07

Legal Resources

These organizations provide legal assistance, advocacy, and resources for citizens pursuing government accountability. Many offer pro bono services for public interest cases.

Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA)

Defends civil liberties, fights government overreach, and provides legal resources for Canadians whose rights are threatened by state action. Active in Charter challenges.
Democracy Watch

Canada's leading citizen group advocating for democratic reform, government accountability, and corporate responsibility. Has filed numerous complaints with ethics and lobbying commissioners.
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)

Provides research and advocacy on Canadian foreign policy, lobbying transparency, and the influence of foreign interest groups on Canadian politics.
Pro Bono Ontario

Free legal advice and representation for low-income Ontarians. Can help with navigating the private prosecution process and connecting with lawyers experienced in public interest litigation.
Legal Aid Ontario

Provides legal aid certificates for those who qualify financially. Public interest cases may receive special consideration.
British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA)

One of Canada's oldest and most active civil liberties organizations. Provides advocacy, public legal education, and litigation on government accountability.
Canadian Bar Association — Find a Lawyer

The national directory for finding lawyers by practice area and province. Search for criminal law, public interest litigation, or constitutional law practitioners in your jurisdiction.

Legal disclaimer: This page provides general information about legal processes available to Canadian citizens. It is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Every situation is different. Consult a qualified lawyer before taking legal action. The authors of this site are not lawyers. All information is sourced from publicly available government records, statutes, and official institutional websites. Links to external organizations are provided for reference and do not constitute endorsement.

What You Can Do Right Now