(Ottawa) Justin Trudeau urges caution amid growing calls for Canada to adopt a registry to track the “interference” activities of certain foreign agents.
The Prime Minister says the government must find better ways to protect Canadians from foreign interference.
He believes, however, that a balance must be struck so that the new measures are not too general and do not target certain groups in the diaspora, such as Canadians of Chinese or Iranian origin.
The Liberal government is under pressure to create a registry of foreign agents, in response to reports of alleged Chinese government interference in Canada’s recent federal election.
Mr. Trudeau referred to the internment of thousands of Japanese and Italian Canadians during the Second World War to explain why his government was taking its time on this file.
He said Ottawa is consulting with experts and Canadians to make sure whatever approach it takes is appropriate.