Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc has tabled Bill C-70, which contains legislation designed to curb foreign interference in the country’s political processes. The bill comes in response to growing concerns over foreign meddling in recent federal elections, as highlighted by an ongoing public inquiry led by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue.
If passed, the bill would introduce several key measures to combat foreign interference. Firstly, it would establish a new indictable offense under the Security of Information Act, punishable by up to life in prison, for engaging in deceptive conduct to influence political or governmental processes at the direction of a foreign entity. This offense would cover a wide range of activities, from party nomination contests to school board governance.
Additionally, the bill proposes updates to the Criminal Code to prevent sabotage attacks on critical infrastructure and amendments to the Security of Information Act to address the inappropriate sharing of military technology and knowledge.
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The legislation also aims to empower the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) by allowing it to disclose sensitive information beyond the federal government to build resilience against foreign interference. However, former CSIS director Ward Elcock cautioned that this change may present challenges for the agency in balancing information sharing with ongoing investigations.
“It will be more challenging for the service because it will have to take some decisions about what information it shares and doesn’t share,” Elcock said on CBC’s Power & Politics. “There’s the potential to create problems in an investigation by sharing too much.”
A key component of the bill is the establishment of a foreign influence transparency registry, overseen by a newly appointed commissioner. Those acting on behalf of foreign states to influence Canadian politics or government would be required to register, with violations resulting in substantial financial penalties and potential imprisonment.
Gloria Fung, president of Canada-Hong Kong Link, meanwhile cautions that the registry is not a complete solution to the complex issue of foreign interference.
“The registry is not a panacea. It is an important first step to combat foreign interference,” she said.
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