Report points to five countries — China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Iran — who are key threat actors against Canada and details some of their methods used to influence foreign countries
OTTAWA – Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue concluded in her first report released Friday that the 2019 and 2021 federal elections were “tainted” by the “stain” of foreign interference, though it ultimately did not affect the overall result.
Her report also points to five countries — China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Iran — who are key threat actors against Canada and details some of their methods used to influence foreign countries.
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There’s no doubt in Hogue’s mind that the PRC is the “main perpetrator” of foreign interference in Canada. The country’s methods are the most sophisticated and pose the biggest threat to Canada’s elections.
“The PRC uses a range of tools, including Canada-based proxies. These tools include the monitoring of diaspora communities and transnational repression; activities meant to impact the outcome of Canadian democratic processes (including providing financial support to preferred candidates); and clandestinely shaping narratives in support of PRC strategic interests,” reads the report.
To accomplish its goals, China relies on a range of individuals such as PRC officials in Canada, Canadian-based proxies, and bodies of both the Chinese Communist Party and the PRC such as the United Front Work Department.
The PRC focuses much of its attempted influence on groups it considers a threat to its domestic goals, particularly what it considers to be the “Five Poisons”: Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, Tibetans, supporters of Taiwanese independence, and pro-democracy activists.
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The Chinese government also exerts significant control on the Chinese-language traditional and social media platforms and uses the influence to promote “pro-PRC narratives, spread disinformation, and suppress anti-China content.”
“Foreign interference by the PRC is generally thought to be party-agnostic. The PRC does not support any particular party, but rather supports outcomes that it views as pro-PRC, regardless of the political affiliation of a particular candidate,” Hogue wrote.
Much of India’s foreign interference efforts aim to promote its government’s geopolitical views within the Canadian government and the Indian diaspora, particularly on the issue of an independent Sikh homeland (Khalistan).
“India does not differentiate between lawful, pro-Khalistani political advocacy and the relatively small Canada-based Khalistani violent extremism. It views anyone aligned with Khalistani separatism as a seditious threat to India,” Hogue wrote.
India may use proxy agents in Canada to provide “illicit financial support” to Canadian politicians who espouse India’s views, sometimes without the candidates’ knowledge.
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Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that intelligence suggested the Indian government was linked to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil in June.
Russia is a notorious disinformation and misinformation threat actor, but its efforts are largely focused on discrediting and undermining the U.S. and related domestic and international institutions like NATO and the Five Eyes Alliance.
“Its overarching goal is to undermine perceived United States global dominance, discredit the US and Western policies, and undermine support for US-led institutions, partnerships and alliances. It also seeks to shape public opinion, manipulate existing social issues, and exacerbate existing social divides,” reads the report.
But for all of Russia’s interest and impact on U.S. domestic policy, it has yet to turn a serious eye to Canada.
“Canada does not have the same profile for Russia as some of our allies as a target for its disinformation activities. While Russia had the means to engage in foreign interference in Canadian elections, it appears to lack the intent to do so,” Hogue wrote.
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Whereas the Indian government commits foreign interference to promote its interests, the Pakistani government’s efforts are often aimed at countering India’s, Hogue wrote.
“Canada is an attractive target for Pakistan because of its significant South Asian community and the presence of Canada-based groups and individuals that can be leveraged as proxy agents against India,” her report reads.
“In previous federal and provincial elections, Pakistan engaged in foreign interference by, for example, attempting to clandestinely affect the selection of politicians and candidates who are perceived to be more pro-Pakistan than pro-India,” Hogue wrote.
Iran is not a “significant” foreign interference threat actor, but government officials are likely “monitoring, influencing, and collecting information” on Iranians in Canada to quell criticism of the regime.
“In some cases, Iran seeks to silence Canada-based critics through harassment and intimidation,” she wrote.
In her report, Hogue noted foreign interference is far from a new phenomenon, it has only evolved in sophistication as democracy spread and new technologies emerged. She mentions that European monarchs consistently meddled with the election of Catholic popes throughout the Middle Ages. She also listed several other know examples of foreign interference through the 18th and 19th centuries.
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For example, the French legislative elections of 1797 were flooded with British funds when the English “lavishly funded” royalist candidates in France.
Then in 1800, “France dispatched an agent to the United States to spread rumours that France would contemplate war if Thomas Jefferson did not win America’s first contested election,” she wrote.
“In the 19th century, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck sought to punish British Prime Minister William Gladstone’s foreign policy by trying to destroy his reputation with election propaganda. An 1884 letter from Bismarck’s son notes the aim was: to ‘squash Gladstone against the wall, so that he can yap no more’,” her report said.
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Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
MONTREAL – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will not be taking advice from Pierre Poilievre after the Conservative leader challenged him to bring down government.
“I say directly to Pierre Poilievre: I’m not going to listen to you,” said Singh on Wednesday, accusing Poilievre of wanting to take away dental-care coverage from Canadians, among other things.
“I’m not going to listen to your advice. You want to destroy people’s lives, I want to build up a brighter future.”
Earlier in the day, Poilievre challenged Singh to commit to voting non-confidence in the government, saying his party will force a vote in the House of Commons “at the earliest possibly opportunity.”
“I’m asking Jagmeet Singh and the NDP to commit unequivocally before Monday’s byelections: will they vote non-confidence to bring down the costly coalition and trigger a carbon tax election, or will Jagmeet Singh sell out Canadians again?” Poilievre said.
“It’s put up or shut up time for the NDP.”
While Singh rejected the idea he would ever listen to Poilievre, he did not say how the NDP would vote on a non-confidence motion.
“I’ve said on any vote, we’re going to look at the vote and we’ll make our decision. I’m not going to say our decision ahead of time,” he said.
Singh’s top adviser said on Tuesday the NDP leader is not particularly eager to trigger an election, even as the Conservatives challenge him to do just that.
Anne McGrath, Singh’s principal secretary, says there will be more volatility in Parliament and the odds of an early election have risen.
“I don’t think he is anxious to launch one, or chomping at the bit to have one, but it can happen,” she said in an interview.
New Democrat MPs are in a second day of meetings in Montreal as they nail down a plan for how to navigate the minority Parliament this fall.
The caucus retreat comes one week after Singh announced the party has left the supply-and-confidence agreement with the governing Liberals.
It’s also taking place in the very city where New Democrats are hoping to pick up a seat on Monday, when voters go to the polls in Montreal’s LaSalle—Émard—Verdun. A second byelection is being held that day in the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood—Transcona, where the NDP is hoping to hold onto a seat the Conservatives are also vying for.
While New Democrats are seeking to distance themselves from the Liberals, they don’t appear ready to trigger a general election.
Singh signalled on Tuesday that he will have more to say Wednesday about the party’s strategy for the upcoming sitting.
He is hoping to convince Canadians that his party can defeat the federal Conservatives, who have been riding high in the polls over the last year.
Singh has attacked Poilievre as someone who would bring back Harper-style cuts to programs that Canadians rely on, including the national dental-care program that was part of the supply-and-confidence agreement.
The Canadian Press has asked Poilievre’s office whether the Conservative leader intends to keep the program in place, if he forms government after the next election.
With the return of Parliament just days away, the NDP is also keeping in mind how other parties will look to capitalize on the new makeup of the House of Commons.
The Bloc Québécois has already indicated that it’s written up a list of demands for the Liberals in exchange for support on votes.
The next federal election must take place by October 2025 at the latest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante is defending her decision to turn off comments on her social media accounts — with an announcement on social media.
She posted screenshots to X this morning of vulgar names she’s been called on the platform, and says comments on her posts for months have been dominated by insults, to the point that she decided to block them.
Montreal’s Opposition leader and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have criticized Plante for limiting freedom of expression by restricting comments on her X and Instagram accounts.
They say elected officials who use social media should be willing to hear from constituents on those platforms.
However, Plante says some people may believe there is a fundamental right to call someone offensive names and to normalize violence online, but she disagrees.
Her statement on X is closed to comments.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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