Last week, the daily Globe and Mail revealed the findings of two confidential Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) reports that detailed the Chinese government’s interference strategy in the 2021 federal election. These findings come on top of allegations that Beijing has also interfered in the 2019 federal election to support 11 candidates in the Greater Toronto Area. The government’s current inaction is simply astounding.
The threat posed by China to Canada’s national security has been anticipated for some time by experts. Several CSIS annual reports clearly mention the intensity of the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts at espionage and political interference in Canada. Nevertheless, decades of indifference to national security issues – all parties combined in Ottawa – have greatly vulnerable Canada, which today is ill-equipped to protect itself against this type of interference.
To remedy the situation, Ottawa would benefit from taking the example of Australia. In 2018, following repeated warnings from its intelligence agencies, Australia’s federal government passed nine new laws to prevent foreign policy interference. They came to replace the old legal framework drafted in the 1970s and which had become completely inadequate.
Among the main provisions, Australia now requires the registration of foreign government lobbyists in a public register. Recently, then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told a parliamentary committee1 that the main purpose of this register was to highlight the links established by the United Front of the Communist Party of China in Australia.
Also, laws sanctioned by Australia criminalize engaging in covert, deceptive or threatening behavior on behalf of a government or foreign entity for the purpose of influencing its political or democratic processes, supporting a foreign intelligence agency and harm its national security.
Above all, they give enforcement and intelligence agencies the power to intervene ahead of any foreign interference and prosecute those responsible.
The latter are liable to penalties ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison. It will be up to Canada to find its own balance between these restrictive and preventive measures.
In light of current Canadian events, following Australia’s example by adopting a more robust legislative framework against foreign political interference seems fundamental. However, this will require allocating resources accordingly. CSIS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) must have adequate legislative and regulatory tools, but also have the necessary means to adequately fulfill their mission and deal with the threat weighing on the country.
Because of the magnitude of the latter, it is important that CSIS and the RCMP are not the only entities to be concerned about this issue. Politicians also have a decisive role to play and a challenge of this order cannot be left to the vagaries of partisan contests. All parties must form a common front. The integrity of our electoral processes and the maintenance of public confidence in our democratic institutions are at stake. Nothing less.