Parliamentary Committee Notes: Speaking Notes
Honourable Madam Chair, Vice Chairs, Committee Members:
Good afternoon, and thank you for inviting me to this meeting on traditional Algonquin territory.
I appreciate the opportunity to provide a few words about the Committee’s study on intimidation and foreign election interference.
Madam Chair, no country is immune to the threats of foreign interference.
Canada invests in its democracy and takes pride in the integrity of its electoral system.
Some foreign actors are trying to abuse this open system to push their own interests, using covert tactics.
These threats are not new, but we must stay vigilant to ensure our ability to respond evolves with the threat.
While this government has taken strong action to protect our democracy since taking office in 2015, threats like these remain active.
It would be a mistake to rest on our laurels and become complacent.
It’s something we take very seriously.
The Government of Canada is responding to this complex issue in a structured way.
First, we are investing in prevention.
By raising awareness of the threat of foreign interference, through increased briefings and improved flow of intelligence, we’re showing our adversaries we aren’t to be underestimated.
Second, we are increasing our capacity for protection.
We’re mobilizing new tools and resources to ensure Canadians,
including Parliamentarians, feel safe.
These include increased funding for the RCMP of $48.9 million over three years to protect Canadians from harassment and intimidation by foreign actors, to increase its investigative capacity, and to cooperate more proactively with communities that are most at risk of being targeted.
Third, we are making sure that the national security players are accountable.
We’re learning from the findings of independent reviews from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency, and the Independent Special Rapporteur, and acting on their advice.
And finally, we believe that transparency is a great tool to counter foreign interference.
We’re being more open about the threats and how we can best use intelligence to counter them and protect our democracy—and, most importantly, Canadians.
We know that foreign interference has potential impacts not just on our elections, elected officials and their staff, but also all levels of government and all facets of Canadian society.
Madam Chair, when individuals in Canada are subjected to intimidation, harassment or manipulation by foreign states or their proxies, these activities are a threat to our sovereignty and to the safety of communities and individuals in Canada.
They will never be tolerated.
And any harassment, intimidation, or coercion by a foreign power will be investigated, and law enforcement will independently take appropriate actions.
In addition to the measures I previously mentioned, allow me to speak to what the Government of Canada is doing:
We have established a new National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator.
We have launched public consultations to guide the creation of a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry—and we’ve completed meetings with diaspora organizations that are vulnerable to foreign interference.
I issued a new ministerial directive to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to ensure that I am informed of any foreign interference threats involving Parliamentarians or their families.
CSIS must also provide briefings to Parliamentarians if threats are directed at them.
We’ve provided $5.5 million in funding for civil society partners to counter disinformation.
In addition, with several federal by-elections fast approaching, the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force has been activated to ensure the protection of our electoral processes.
And finally, national security officials have taken action to better support decision making with timely intelligence related to foreign interference.
Madam Chair, all of these measures and investments follow the principles of prevention, protection, accountability, and transparency I mentioned earlier.
And they transcend party lines.
While my colleagues and I do not agree on all matters, we all share a moral imperative to uphold our great country’s institutions and to keep our constituents, and each other, safe.
We know that threats to democratic institutions persist, such as foreign interference and disinformation, and they show no signs of slowing down.
And I can reassure members that the Government will continue taking all necessary measures to mitigate threats to national security, including by foreign actors.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
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