CSIS unveils new examples of foreign interference in Canadian politics

During a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian politics on Friday, it was revealed that a foreign government attempted to defeat a Liberal candidate, and a former parliamentarian is suspected of having worked to influence parliamentary affairs on behalf of a foreign entity.

Officials from the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) presented two new instances of foreign interference, in addition to four previously disclosed examples.

The countries involved in the latest cases, as well as the specific parliamentarians, were not named by the officials.

CSIS officials indicated that China is the country most actively attempting to interfere in Canada's affairs, followed by India. They also cautioned that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could prompt Iran to engage in interference during the upcoming federal election.

The testimony on Friday was given after the inquiry requested CSIS to compile a comprehensive list of all known examples of foreign interference in Canadian politics. This list, which includes the two new cases, outlines:

• The government of Pakistan’s attempts to "clandestinely influence Canadian federal politics" to further its interests in Canada.
• Foreign interference that led to a briefing for security-cleared representatives of the Liberal Party of Canada shortly before the 2021 election, and for the prime minister shortly thereafter.
• A foreign government actively supporting a candidate during the 2019 nomination race in Don Valley North. Earlier testimonies indicated that the Chinese consulate in Toronto organized transportation for groups of students to vote for Liberal nomination candidate Han Dong in that riding.
• Suspicions regarding the government of India allegedly using proxy agents to, as stated in a CSIS document presented at the inquiry, "clandestinely provide financial support to specific candidates from three political parties in a federal election." The receipt of such funds cannot be confirmed, nor can it be established whether the candidates were aware of their origins.