Foreign interference poses a “complex and enduring threat” to Canada, the country’s spymaster told MPs on Thursday amid multiple media reports detailing China’s alleged attempts to influence Canadian society and elections.
David Vigneault, director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), testified in front of the House of Commons’ procedure and House affairs committee Thursday about the methods “threat actors” may use.
The committee recently voted to expand its probe of foreign interference as reports from the Globe and Mail and Global News have detailed China’s wide-ranging attempts to influence the outcome of the 2019 and 2021 federal election.
Vigneault said he agreed with a report from the independent panel tasked with overseeing the elections that determined foreign interference did not affect their outcome. That report had also made clear that even if the outcome wasn’t impacted, there were attempts to interfere in the election that didn’t meet the threshold for the panel of experts tasked with monitoring risks to the election to report those attempts to the public.
The CSIS director provided a series of examples of methods foreign adversaries use to influence Canadians.
“Threat actors may also cultivate relationships with targets to manipulate them into providing favors and valuable information, or may conduct corrupt or financing activities. It is also important to note that threat actors may use others as proxies to conduct these activities on their behalf,” he said in French.
“These are just a few of the techniques that foreign state actors employ to influence public discourse, the behaviour of individual Canadians, and even our processes to their advantage. We have also observed them to deploy cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and espionage to these ends. Foreign interference is therefore a complex and enduring threat to Canada’s sovereignty.”
Vigneault added that CSIS takes foreign interference seriously, and he often briefs Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other ministers on the issue. He said it’s important to withhold certain information from the public because foreign governments are learning how CSIS works, the types of powers it has and what it can do.
Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner of federal policing for the RCMP, Michael Duheme, said the Mounties did not receive any “actionable intelligence” about the last election that would lead to an investigation, and no charges have been laid into any allegations.
Earlier Thursday, the commissioner of Canada Elections told the committee her office is reviewing past complaints related to foreign interference. Caroline Simard said her office received 158 complaints related to 10 situations in the 2019 election, and 16 complaints related to 13 situations during the 2021 election.
It is not clear if any of those complaints were found to be actual cases of foreign interference.
She says two more complaints have been brought to her office since she last testified at the procedure and House affairs committee in November.
Over the last number of weeks, Global News and The Globe and Mail have revealed detailed reports showing the scope of China’s alleged efforts to influence Canadian society, including allegations of attempts to interfere in the 2019 and 2021 elections.
Trudeau has said Canadians can be assured the results of the elections were not impacted — but so far has not clearly answered questions about calls for a public inquiry into the matter, despite calls from prominent officials to do so.
A motion calling for a public inquiry is expected to be presented on Thursday afternoon at committee.
— with files from The Canadian Press
