National Security & Intelligence: Plenary Session on Foreign Interference
Sam Cooper, The Bureau
Sarah-Maude Lefebvre, Journal de Montréal
Chair/Président : Christian Leuprecht (Royal Military College & Queen's University)
Discussant/Commentateur : Benjamin Fung (McGill University)
As an advanced economy and open democracy, Canada is a frequent target of foreign interference. Foreign interference includes harmful activities undertaken by foreign states, or those acting on their behalf, that are clandestine, deceptive, or involve a threat to any person to advance the strategic objectives of those states to the detriment of Canada’s national interests. Foreign interference poses a strategic threat to Canada’s national security. A Member of Parliament, a professor, and two investigative journalists discuss threats, harassment or intimidation by foreign state and non-state actors who target officials at all levels of government to influence public policy and decision-making in a way that is clandestine, deceptive or threatening. Foreign governments have legal, established, and legitimate channels of engagement with the Government of Canada. However, some foreign governments cross the line from standard diplomacy and lobbying into foreign interference when they seek to exert influence in non-transparent ways. Foreign interference poses one of the greatest strategic threats to Canada’s national security. Examples include:
• Threats, harassment or intimidation by foreign states, or those acting on its behalf, against anyone in Canada, Canadian communities, or their loved ones abroad; and,
• Targeting officials at all levels of government to influence public policy and decision-making in a way that is clandestine, deceptive or threatening. These activities can have serious implications for Canadian interests, national security and democratic processes and institutions. While Canada has a number of existing tools to support transparency, new measures could be considered, such as a foreign influence transparency registry, which would better align Canada’s approach with those of like-minded partners and allies, bolstering overall collective resilience.