Question Period Note: FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN ELECTIONS

• As a government, it’s our job to protect our institutions and everyone who calls Canada home.
• That is why, since 2015, the Government of Canada has taken significant action to combat foreign interference, while strengthening our institutions and our democracy.
• This March, the Prime Minister announced further action, including requesting reviews by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) and the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA), and appointing an Independent Special Rapporteur on Foreign Interference.
• In April, a report was delivered to the Prime Minister entitled Countering an Evolving Threat: Update on Recommendations to Counter Foreign Interference in Canada's Democratic Institutions highlighting work completed to date, including through Canada’s Plan to Protect Democracy.
• The House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) is also carrying out its own study of foreign interference. We look forward to hearing the results of their work.

In response to recent leaks of classified information concerning FI, and to help rebuild confidence in the Canadian democratic system, the government has directed a number of independent reviews to examine this issue. These include reviews by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) and the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA), as well as the appointment of the Independent Special Rapporteur on Foreign Interference, the Right Honourable David Johnston.
In addition, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) and the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) have been studying the issue of foreign interference. These Committees have heard from a wide range of individuals, including political party officials, members of diaspora communities, senior government officials, political staff, and Ministers. Their reports are expected to include additional recommendations.
Other measures announced by the Government of Canada since March 2023 include:
• Launching public consultations to guide the creation of a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry to ensure transparency and accountability from people who advocate on behalf of a foreign government and ensure communities who are often targeted by attempts at foreign interference are protected;
• Establishing a new National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator to align efforts across Canada’s government;
• Investing $5.5 million to strengthen the capacity of civil society partners to counter disinformation;
• Through Budget 2023, investing $48.9M over three years to provide additional support to the RCMP to increase their investigative capacity and more proactively engage with at-risk communities targeted by threat actors for foreign interference;
• Developing a plan to address outstanding recommendations from recently concluded or ongoing assessments of the threat of foreign interference in recent federal general elections. This plan, which was publicly released on April 6, 2023, highlights work completed to date, further actions to respond to recommendations from NSICOP and assessments of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol (the Protocol) to:
­ Enhance communications with Canadians about FI and protecting democracy
­ Strengthen institutions and supporting legislation to combat FI
­ Respond to newly emerging risks, vulnerabilities, and security issues; and
­ Deepen engagement with partners to enhance awareness and improve resiliency to FI.

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