VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A public inquiry examining foreign interference in Canada’s elections concluded on Tuesday, revealing attempts by some foreign entities to influence the electoral process but affirming that the nation’s democratic institutions remain strong. However, the inquiry highlighted concerns about the spreading of misinformation as a significant threat to democracy.
The final report from the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference did not identify any members of Canadian parliament as being traitorous. Nonetheless, Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue cautioned that foreign actors disseminating disinformation through traditional and social media poses one of the greatest risks to democracy. “Identifying false information is becoming increasingly challenging, and the repercussions are incredibly detrimental,” Hogue stated during a news conference in Ottawa, where she refrained from addressing questions from the media.
The Canadian government launched this inquiry in September 2023 with the goal of investigating potential interference by countries like China and Russia in the federal elections held in 2019 and 2021, which saw Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party reelected. The report singled out China as the “most active perpetrator” of foreign interference in Canada, with India recognized as the second most involved.
Tensions between Canada and India have escalated following allegations made by Trudeau and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that the Indian government was connected to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh activist, in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. India has refuted these claims. In addition, four Indian nationals residing in Canada have been charged in connection with Nijjar’s murder and are currently awaiting trial.
Other nations such as Russia, Pakistan, and Iran are also cited as threats concerning foreign interference in Canadian affairs. Ronald Au-Yeung, a political science fellow at the University of Notre Dame, remarked that while Canada has robust election regulations, the report fell short of addressing the risks posed by foreign interference during the candidate nomination processes of political parties. He noted that foreign governments could enroll members during nomination races to obstruct their critics from obtaining party nominations.
In response to these concerns, Hogue recommended that political parties implement stricter rules regarding who may vote in nomination and leadership contests. The extensive report comprises seven volumes and presents 51 recommendations for the federal government, nearly half of which should be prioritized ahead of the next election.
This report is particularly timely as Canada’s Liberal Party begins to search for a new leader to replace Trudeau, who announced his resignation on January 6. He will continue to serve as prime minister until a new leader is chosen on March 9. The new Liberal leader might hold the record for the shortest-serving prime minister in Canadian history, especially as all three opposition parties have indicated plans to initiate a no-confidence vote that seeks to oust the Liberals from their minority government once parliament resumes on March 24, which could result in a spring election.
Among the key recommendations from the report are efforts to enhance federal preparedness, promote transparency, strengthen electoral integrity, and deflect threats aimed at diaspora communities. Hogue also urged the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to emphasize reports deemed crucial for senior decision-makers. Furthermore, the report suggests establishing an entity dedicated to monitoring online content for misinformation and disinformation that could undermine democratic processes.
Additionally, it calls for the development of a thorough foreign interference strategy by the government, encourages political leaders to acquire top-secret security clearances, and considers creating a new agency to oversee online environments for disinformation. The Canadian parliament had previously approved legislation aimed at bolstering defenses against foreign meddling, which includes new offenses against deceptive actions that could disrupt democratic processes such as influencing nomination contests through covert tactics.
