Parliamentary Committee Notes: Opening remarks by the Honourable Marco Mendicino Minister of Public Safety
Honourable Chair, Committee Members:
Thank you for the opportunity to join you today, on traditional Algonquin territory.
And thank you for undertaking this important study of overseas “police” stations reportedly operating in Canada, along with threats of intimidation and foreign interference.
I know this Committee will appreciate that I cannot get into the specifics of ongoing investigations.
Transparency is critical to ensuring Canadians understand the threat of foreign interference. We have made significant efforts to reach out to communities to engage them on the threats and strategies to ensure greater resilience.
At the same time, there are certain aspects where the protection of our national security will mean that we cannot be fully transparent on the nature of our investigations to ensure the integrity and security of those investigations.
That said, I welcome the opportunity to provide context from my perspective, as you begin this study.
Mr. Chair, all foreign government representatives in Canada have a duty under international law to respect the laws and regulations of Canada.
Should any foreign state be using offices, like those purported in the Greater Toronto Area, to threaten or intimidate Canadians and individuals residing in Canada, they would be circumventing existing international agreements.
The RCMP is working with the community, their law enforcement partners and other Government of Canada partners on this issue.
The RCMP has the mandate to counter foreign interference activity in Canada.
The RCMP’s Federal Policing National Security program has a multidisciplinary team dedicated to foreign actor interference.
The ultimate goal is to help ensure that the public feel safe in their own communities, building trust and confidence and where possible, enforce relevant legislation or disrupt activities.
As I noted, and as the RCMP has made very clear – including through issuing a news release to the public – the specific case you are studying is an ongoing investigation.
And the RCMP encourages individuals facing harassment or intimidation, who feel they are in immediate danger, to call 9-1-1 or contact their local police department.
For a non-immediate threat, individuals may also contact the RCMP’s National Security Information Network by phone or email.
I would like to further emphasize that regardless of the method, any kind of foreign interference will not be tolerated in Canada.
Countering that threat, protecting the safety of Canadians and individuals residing in Canada, and safeguarding sovereignty, interests and values are top priorities for me, and for the Government.
Our country is not immune to these threats.
In recent years, Canada has increasingly become a target of foreign interference.
As you know, it comes from state actors like the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and others.
They try to push their political, economic, and security interests, while attacking ours.
Look at the threats we see around the world.
We’ve seen examples of foreign actors seeking to undermine the safety of specific individuals or their family, including in Canada.
The spread of disinformation on social media to erode the public’s trust in the government.
Attempts to deceptively influence government decision-makers.
And activities that could imperil Canada’s economic security, such as interference in critical supply chains.
We can’t allow this to continue.
And here’s how we’re taking action.
First, I’m pleased to report that Canada’s approach to China is a key part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, announced in November.
That Strategy is perhaps the best and most current reflection of the carefully considered and measured approach to defending Canada’s values and interests in this region.
It’s shaped by a realistic, updated, and clear-eyed assessment of today’s China, aligned with that of our partners in the region and around the world, with global security at its core.
And it’s bolstered by the fact that our security and intelligence agencies already do important work to combat the threats from foreign interference, including those from the Chinese state.
We take a whole-of-government approach to protecting Canadians, and our national interest both at home and abroad, from the activities of foreign threat actors.
We assess and investigate threats.
Indeed, at all times, the RCMP’s primary focus is the safety and protection of the public.
They can respond and level charges against criminal instances of harassment, intimidation, and coercion.
And they are mandated to monitor, assess and respond to foreign interference threats and activities within Canada.
The Government also provides tools and guidance to Canadians to help them identify and mitigate risks.
We provide mechanisms for public reporting, including through CSIS and RCMP websites, and national security threat phone lines.
We help critical infrastructure operators defend critical cyber security systems that Canadians rely on.
We engage with stakeholders that may be targeted by foreign actors.
We also engage bilaterally, through Global Affairs Canada, with states that perpetuate threats to Canadian interests.
We coordinate and share information with Five Eyes, and other allies, such as G7 and NATO, on foreign interference and other threats.
We take a holistic approach to protecting Canada’s democratic institutions and practices from interference, as you will see in our 2019 Plan to Protect Canada’s Democracy.
And we continue to enhance citizen resilience to disinformation, by helping Canadians to become better-informed about disinformation tactics and actors, and by enhancing transparency.
Mr. Chair, on that note, I will add that just this past December I announced that the Government of Canada will be launching public consultations with stakeholders and the public on ways to further increase transparency on foreign influence.
That could include requiring individuals acting as agents for foreign states to be properly registered.
The intent of these and other ongoing efforts is to recognize that the threat of foreign interference is not static, and we must continue to build Canada’s toolkit to confront this evolving threat.
Colleagues, as I close, I will underline that our security and intelligence agencies continue to investigate and monitor reports of Chinese overseas police stations in Canada.
There will be no tolerance for this or any other form of intimidation, harassment, or harmful targeting of Canadians or individuals within Canada.
And Canada will continue to stand for our interests and values, both at home and abroad.
Thank you.
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