A newly released document shows that federal cabinet ministers were warned in May 2022 that hostile states were targeting Canada’s strategic interests, the integrity of Canadian institutions and democratic processes, and the public’s ability to exercise rights and freedoms protected by the Charter.
The document is a summary of one of four memoranda to Cabinet, generally considered confidential documents, that were provided to a federal commission of inquiry into foreign interference as part of its mandate.
The investigation found on Monday that following extensive discussions, the government agreed to the public disclosure of the memo summaries. All four were introduced into evidence after a commission hearing Monday.
The summary of the May 2022 memorandum to Cabinet, known as the MC, indicates that hostile threats emanated from states including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
“While these threats were not described as new to Canada, the MC noted that the Canadian security and intelligence community has observed an increase in the volume and complexity of these threats in recent years” , says the summary.
The government said Canada had “tools and levers” to counter dangers, but that those tools required better coordination and, in some cases, modernization to deal with “an increasingly threat environment.” dynamic and complex.
The memorandum called for possible improvements to the law to combat foreign interference, including the creation of a registry of foreign agents, a recommendation adopted by the Liberals. Bill C-70, which contains a series of new measures, including such a register, received royal assent earlier this year.
The government also tabled summaries of the 2018, 2019 and 2021 Cabinet memorandums on Monday.
The 2018 memorandum laid the groundwork for conventions to protect general elections, including a protocol for responding to incidents of interference and determining if, when and how to communicate with Canadians about campaign interference.
The October 2018 submission to ministers also called on the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to make “sustained investments” in its ability to investigate, analyze and provide advice on foreign activities targeting Canada’s democratic institutions . CSIS should make key stakeholders involved in the democratic process aware of the threats they face.
The memorandum also states that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) should form a team to investigate foreign interference activities.
The memoranda in question had already been delivered to David Johnston, who investigated foreign interference last year as the government’s special rapporteur.
The commission of inquiry said Monday that the government, in addition to consenting to the release of the summaries, had also twice expanded the commission’s access to Cabinet secrets.
The commission of inquiry obtained an extraordinary degree of access to classified documents and confidential Cabinet information, said Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue.
“This information will help me make recommendations that will help preserve the integrity of Canada’s electoral processes and democratic institutions and strengthen Canadians’ confidence in their democracy.” »
Detect and counter interference
The committee’s latest hearings focus on the institutions’ ability to detect and counter foreign interference.
On Monday, current and former employees of the Privy Council Office secretariats responsible for security and intelligence issues and the assessment of various threats testified before the commission of inquiry.
A November 2023 report tabled at the hearing said Canada’s national security and intelligence governance structure was “not optimally or effectively organized.”
It indicated that there was overlap in the composition and mandates of committees made up of senior officials, as well as duplication of discussions between several committees.
The briefing report, prepared for the deputy national security and intelligence adviser, concluded that there were too many meetings, with “not enough effect.”
He noted inconsistent tracking of items as well as an irregular flow of information to lower levels, causing confusion and “hindering work.”
Nabih Eldebs, who oversees the four directorates of the Security and Intelligence Secretariat, noted that deputy ministers were expected to attend a “plethora of committees” on security issues.
“This means that [les sous-ministres] are always in meetings and not engaging in other things,” he told the inquest.
Mr Eldebs said he hoped a new structure would be finalized in the coming weeks.