Investigation Reveals Foreign Interference in Canadian Elections
An official probe has uncovered evidence of foreign interference in Canada’s last two federal elections, but fortunately, the results of the votes were not compromised and the electoral system was deemed to be robust. The initial findings, released on Friday, shed light on the attempts made by foreign entities to meddle in the democratic process.
The interim report confirms Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertions that China sought to interfere in the elections, although the outcome of the votes remained unaffected. The Foreign Interference Commission, led by commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue, will release its final report by the end of the year. Despite Trudeau’s claims, Beijing has consistently denied any involvement in the electoral process.
According to Hogue, “Acts of foreign interference did take place during the last two federal general elections, but they did not undermine the integrity of our electoral system.” The establishment of the Foreign Interference Commission last year was a response to mounting pressure from opposition lawmakers who were concerned about reports of potential foreign interference, particularly from China. The commission’s mandate includes investigating allegations of foreign interference in both the 2019 and 2021 elections.
While reassuring Canadians about the integrity of the electoral system, Hogue acknowledged that the interference has left a mark on the electoral process. “Our system remains sound. Voters were able to cast their ballots, their votes were duly registered and counted, and there is nothing to suggest that there was any interference whatsoever in this regard,” she stated. However, she also emphasized that the acts of interference have tainted the electoral process and had an impact on the lead-up to the actual vote.
As the Foreign Interference Commission continues its investigation, Canadians await the final report that will shed more light on the extent of foreign meddling in their democratic process.