441-01979 (Foreign affairs)

The Government of Canada is committed to protecting and continuously strengthening Canada’s democracy, including its institutions and processes, in the face of evolving threats. This is why, in the summer of 2023, the Prime Minister asked the Minister responsible for democratic institutions to work to determine a way forward to shine light into the matter of foreign interference in Canada’s elections, and to determine who may be best suited to lead this public work.

Following extensive consultations with all recognized parties in the House of Commons, the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs on September 7, 2023, announced that a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada’s federal electoral processes and democratic institutions would be established under the Inquiries Act. All parties agreed to the Terms of Reference and the appointment of the Commissioner.

The Honourable Marie-Josée Hogue, puisne judge of the Quebec Court of Appeal, was appointed as the Commissioner to lead the public inquiry. Her mandate began on September 18, 2023. Appointed under the Inquiries Act, the Commissioner operates independently from the government and has a full range of powers, including the power to compel witnesses and testimony on matters within federal jurisdiction, and broad access to classified and unclassified documents.

The Commissioner is mandated to examine and assess interference by China, Russia and other foreign states or nonstate actors, including any potential impacts, to confirm the integrity of, and any impacts on, the 43^rd and 44^th federal general elections at the national and electoral district levels.

The Commissioner is also mandated to assess the capacity of federal entities to detect, deter and counter foreign interference targeting Canada’s democratic processes, and to make any recommendations she deems appropriate to better protect Canada’s democratic processes from foreign interference, including in relation to the creation and dissemination of intelligence, relevant supports and protections for members of diasporas, and the mechanisms that were in place to protect the integrity of 43^rd and 44^th elections.

The Commissioner is directed to submit her first report no later than May 3, 2024, and her second report no later than December 31, 2024. As outlined in the Terms of Reference (https://www.canada.ca/en/democratic-institutions/general/terms-reference.html), to foster transparency and a better understanding of the findings, leaders of all parties recognized in the House of Commons with appropriate clearance will be invited to review classified versions of the Commissioner’s reports. The Government of Canada looks forward to receiving the Commissioner’s reports and any recommendations contained therein.

The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) and the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) each have ongoing, parallel, reviews to assess the state of foreign interference in Canada’s federal electoral processes and the flow of information from national security agencies to decision makers during the 43^rd and 44^th general elections. The Government of Canada looks forward to receiving NSICOP’s and NSIRA’s findings and reports.

The Government of Canada also continues to reinforce its efforts to counter any form of foreign interference in our electoral processes and to strengthen trust in Canada’s democratic institutions.  On March 6, 2023, the Prime Minister of Canada announced measures to further these objectives. This included the establishment of a National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator at Public Safety Canada to coordinate efforts to combat foreign interference; the development of a plan to address outstanding recommendations from NSICOP and from the independent assessments of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol by Mr. Morris Rosenberg and Mr. James Judd; and, the investment of $5.5 million that created the Canadian Digital Media Research Network, that will further strengthen Canadians’ information resilience by researching how quality of information, including disinformation narratives, impacts Canadians’ attitudes and behaviours and by supporting strategies for Canadians’ digital literacy.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcements, the Government released its report, Countering an evolving threat: Update on recommendations to counter foreign interference in Canada’s democratic institutions, which outlines the recommendations made in the reports to protect Canadian democratic institutions and processes; summarizes the actions that have been taken or are in progress to address the recommendations; and proposes further steps for consideration to bolster Canada’s response to foreign interference threats.

These efforts demonstrate the Government’s continued efforts to protect our democratic institutions, including our electoral processes, from any possible threats, and to ensure Canada’s democracy remains one of the strongest in the world. 

Thank you for taking the time to submit this important petition and for being an active and engaged participant in our democracy.