12 March 2024, Ottawa – Philippine Ambassador Maria Andrelita S. Austria met with Associate Assistant Deputy Minister Julien Brazeau of the Canadian Department of Finance’s Finance Sector Policy Branch (FSPB). Both sides discussed cooperation in the field of financial security in light of international illicit flow of money towards bad faith actors. Ambassador Austria also shared that millions of Filipinos send money internationally to the Philippines through remittances. The Philippines is therefore committed to ensuring that its financial system is up to global standards.

Associate Assistant Deputy Minister Brazeau currently co-chairs with Australia the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG). APG monitors countries in the Asia-Pacific region’s status and compliance with measures to combat illicit financial transactions. Joining the meeting was Jeremy Weil, Senior Director of International Financial Crime Policy and Sanctions in the FSPB.