A federal inquiry has found no evidence of 香蕉视频直播渢raitors香蕉视频直播� in Parliament conspiring with foreign states, dispelling suggestions to the contrary that alarmed the public.
In her final report released Tuesday, inquiry commissioner Marie-Jos茅e Hogue concludes that while the threat of foreign interference is real, Canada香蕉视频直播檚 democratic institutions have held up well against the dangers.
Hogue said she saw no indication the overall results of recent federal elections were altered by a foreign actor and she identified only a small number of ridings where interference may have had some effect.
She praised the dedication and competence of many public servants, but also pointed to shortcomings in government efforts to fend off foreign meddling.
Hogue found that the government sometimes reacted too slowly and that information did not always flow properly to policy-makers.
The report makes more than four dozen recommendations to improve federal preparedness, foster transparency, shore up electoral integrity and counter threats against diaspora communities.
Hogue called on the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to clearly flag reports it views as particularly relevant for senior decision-makers.
She also urged Ottawa to develop a whole-of-government foreign interference strategy, encourage political party leaders to obtain top secret-level security clearances and consider creating a new agency to monitor online spaces for misinformation and disinformation.
香蕉视频直播淚n my view it is no exaggeration to say that at this juncture, information manipulation (whether foreign or not) poses the single biggest risk to our democracy,香蕉视频直播� the report says. 香蕉视频直播淚t is an existential threat.香蕉视频直播�
Hogue香蕉视频直播檚 findings and advice come in the middle of a campaign for the federal Liberal leadership 香蕉视频直播� and possibly just weeks before Canadians head to the polls in a national election.
The inquiry香蕉视频直播檚 most recent public hearings looked at the ability of government agencies, officials and political parties to identify and counter foreign meddling. The commission also held a series of policy roundtables to help develop recommendations.
Hogue also drew on the work of other bodies, including two spy watchdogs.
In a late May report, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency said CSIS and Public Safety Canada lacked a system for tracking who received and read specific intelligence on foreign interference, creating 香蕉视频直播渦nacceptable gaps in accountability.香蕉视频直播�
The following month, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians raised eyebrows with a public version of a classified report that said some parliamentarians were 香蕉视频直播渟emi-witting or witting香蕉视频直播� participants in the efforts of foreign states to meddle in Canadian politics.
Although the NSICOP report didn香蕉视频直播檛 name names, its stark assertion prompted fears that parliamentarians who knowingly engaged in interference might still be active in politics.
The commission of inquiry subsequently agreed to examine NSICOP香蕉视频直播檚 findings.
Hogue said she uncovered no evidence of 香蕉视频直播渢raitors香蕉视频直播� in Parliament plotting with foreign states to act against Canada.
香蕉视频直播淎lthough a few cases involving things like attempts to curry favour with parliamentarians have come to light, the phenomenon remains marginal and largely ineffective,香蕉视频直播� the report says.
香蕉视频直播淚 am not aware of any federal legislation, regulations or policies that have been enacted or repealed on account of foreign interference. While the states香蕉视频直播� attempts are troubling and there is some concerning conduct by parliamentarians, there is no cause for widespread alarm.香蕉视频直播�
Legislation passed last year bolstered Canada香蕉视频直播檚 defences against foreign interference.
The federal legislation created offences for deceptive or surreptitious acts that undermine democratic processes, such as covertly influencing the outcome of a candidate nomination contest.
Another new offence outlaws deceptive or clandestine acts that harm Canadian interests 香蕉视频直播� for instance, helping foreign agents posing as tourists to enter Canada.
A planned foreign influence transparency registry will require certain individuals to register with the federal government.
Given opposition parties香蕉视频直播� determination to topple Justin Trudeau香蕉视频直播檚 Liberal government as soon as possible, legislative changes to guard against foreign meddling appear unlikely before the next election.
But Hogue makes some recommendations that could be implemented without passing a bill.
Under the current federal system, a panel of five top bureaucrats would issue a public warning if they believed an incident 香蕉视频直播� or an accumulation of incidents 香蕉视频直播� threatened Canada香蕉视频直播檚 ability to hold a free and fair election.
There was no such announcement concerning the 2019 or 2021 general elections.
Hogue recommends that the government consider amending the protocol to allow the panel of five to 香蕉视频直播渢ake a less drastic measure than a public announcement in appropriate circumstances.香蕉视频直播�
The Liberal government said in a statement it will carefully review Hogue香蕉视频直播檚 recommendations. It pledged new funding to build resilience against online disinformation and to ensure the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer can 香蕉视频直播減rotect against persistent threats to the electoral process.香蕉视频直播�
The Conservatives said they would study the report香蕉视频直播檚 recommendations and proposals 香蕉视频直播渙n what can be done to protect our elections from foreign interference and hostile foreign states targeting Canada.香蕉视频直播�
Parliament could make changes requiring legislation before the next general election if all parties can agree to pass measures through unanimous consent, said Green party Leader Elizabeth May.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the next move is up to the Liberals.
香蕉视频直播淭hey could take steps right now,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚f the Liberals are serious about this, they should do it.香蕉视频直播�
Members of diaspora communities in Canada told the inquiry how China, India, Iran and Russia make life extremely difficult for their families when they dare to question the regimes.
Hogue香蕉视频直播檚 report says the commission香蕉视频直播檚 work has shown that transnational repression is 香蕉视频直播渁 genuine scourge香蕉视频直播� that the government must address.
The foreign ministries of China and India have rejected claims they are behind any interference in Canada香蕉视频直播檚 domestic affairs, and argue Ottawa is meddling in their own politics.
China香蕉视频直播檚 embassy in Ottawa said the report 香蕉视频直播渕ade groundless accusations and smears香蕉视频直播� against Beijing. It also protested Canada香蕉视频直播檚 statements on issues such as Taiwan, the Uyghurs and Hong Kong.
Ministries for other countries identified in the report as 香蕉视频直播渢hreat actors targeting Canada香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� Russia, Iran and Pakistan 香蕉视频直播� did not respond to requests for comment.
