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.

I have been closely following the testimony on this issue.

It's very clear to me this is not a partisan issue.

Regardless of our political affiliations and stripes, as Parliamentarians and leaders, it is our responsibility to protect Canada and Canadians from these threats.

We've heard details of some of the tactics used to silence dissent, pressure political opponents, and instil fear on Canadian soil.

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 appropriate charges will be pressed independently by police.

We will never accept infringements on the safety and security of our democratic institutions, our communities, and our economic prosperity.

Madam Chair:

…On top of establishing a new National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator…

…On top of having the Committee of Parliamentarians and others review the state of foreign interference in Canada's federal electoral processes…and

…On top of the report, titled "Countering an Evolving Threat: An Update on Recommendations to Prevent Foreign Interference in Canadian Democratic Institutions," released on April 6…

On top of all of this, we have put substantial investments behind these efforts.

We made an investment of $5.5 million to build the capacity of civil society partners to prevent disinformation, promote democratic resilience and raise awareness about foreign interference.

Budget 2023 provides $13.5 million to Public Safety Canada for the establishment of a national Counter-Foreign Interference Coordinator office.

Budget 2023 also provides $48.9 million for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police 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.

These investments build on Budget 2022, in which the government committed $13.4 million to renew and expand the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism over the next five years to counter threats like these to our democracy.

In addition, $12.9 million will be invested to establish a Research Security Center at Public Safety Canada to protect Canadian research, while strengthening security measures at universities and research institutions.

All of these represent tens of millions of dollars in recent investments, toward protecting Canadians, Madam Chair.

These significant investments will help increase the capacity of the Government of Canada in its ongoing efforts to counter foreign interference.

They will protect our communities, ensuring those communities are engaged on the way forward.

And they will protect our democratic systems.

Madam Chair, in addition to investing in our counter-foreign interference response, we've been consulting Canadians on a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry.

Such a registry will ensure that those who represent the interests of a foreign government are transparent and accountable.

Further, it will help to ensure that communities which are often the target of attempts at foreign interference are protected.

Minister Mendicino launched these consultations on March 10, 2023, and I'm pleased to report they wrapped up earlier this month.

We have received positive support to proceed with a Registry and are doing that work now.

I'm pleased to say today that the Independent Special Rapporteur is helping us to choose the next and most practical steps forward, and has suggested ways we can be more transparent and upfront with Canadians.

We now have a First Report from the former Governor General.

And he has reaffirmed the effectiveness of Canada's approach to counter-foreign interference, finding that the elections of 2019 and 2021 were well-protected by sophisticated mechanisms.

Further, the Government implemented the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol, now in place for the last two elections.

That provided a mechanism to alert the public to threats to the integrity of a general election.

Further, Madam Chair, in preparation for the 2019 election, we also created the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force.

It's a group which coordinates intelligence and information between the Communications Security Establishment, Global Affairs Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

I'll remind members that, during the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, SITE helped to coordinate efforts against foreign interference by raising awareness, assessing threats, and preparing the government's response to these threats.

The Task Force also remains active outside of election periods.

Madam Chair, honourable members:

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 take all necessary measures to mitigate threats to national security, including by foreign actors.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

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