Parliamentary Committee Notes: Overview of Recent Announcements on Foreign Interference

2023-2024 Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC)
Date: 12 April 2023
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Fully releasable (ATIP)? Yes
Branch / Agency: NCSB/PS

Overview of Recent Announcements on Foreign Interference

• The Government of Canada continues to look for new and innovative ways to enhance the strong measures we have in place to counter foreign interference, as well as learn from the experiences of international partners to see what may be advisable or possible in Canada.
• In keeping with this approach, on 6 March 2023, the Prime Minister announced further action to combat foreign interference and uphold confidence in our democratic institutions. These initiatives include:
  • The establishment of a new National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator at Public Safety Canada to coordinate efforts to combat foreign interference;
  • Requests for reviews – which are proceeding – by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) and National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) on the state of foreign interference in Canada's federal electoral process and how our national security agencies have responded to this threat;
  • The development of a plan (the PCO 30 day report) to address outstanding recommendations from the NSICOP, Rosenberg Report, and other reviews on these matters, within 30 days. The PCO 30 day report, “Countering an evolving threat: Update on recommendations to counter foreign interference in Canada's democratic institutions”, was delivered on 6 April; and finally
  • An investment of $5.5 million to strengthen the capacity of civil society partners to counter disinformation, promote democratic resilience as well as public awareness of foreign interference.
• The Prime Minister also stated that Public Safety Canada would launch public consultations to guide the creation of a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry in Canada to ensure transparency and accountability from people who advocate on behalf of a foreign government, and that communities who are often targeted by attempts at foreign interference are protected. 
• I (Minister PS) launched these consultations on 10 March 2023 and will be ongoing until 9 May 2023.
• The Government of Canada is also making significant investments in our Counter-Foreign Interference capabilities. Budget 2023 includes $13.5 million over five years, starting in 2023-24, and $3.1 million ongoing to Public Safety Canada to establish a National Counter-Foreign Interference Office.
• Budget 2023 also includes $48.9 million over three years for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to protect Canadians from harassment and intimidation by foreign actors, to increase its investigative capacity, and to more proactively engage with communities at greater risk of being targeted.
• These investments build on Budget 2022, where the government committed $13.4 million to renew and expand the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism over the next five years, to address foreign threats to democracy. As well as $12.9 million over five years to establish a Research Security Centre at Public Safety Canada to protect Canadian research, while strengthening the security posture at universities and research institutions.
• These significant investments will contribute to increasing the Government of Canada's capacity in its ongoing efforts to Counter-Foreign Interference.

Date modified:

2023-08-23