Politics·Updated
The commissioner of Canada Elections, the watchdog that enforces Canada’s federal election laws, said Thursday her office has launched an investigation into allegations of foreign interference in the last two federal election campaigns.
Commissioner of Canada Elections is probing allegations Beijing meddled in Canada’s democracy
John Paul Tasker · CBC News
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The commissioner of Canada Elections, the watchdog that enforces Canada’s federal election laws, says her office has launched an investigation into allegations of foreign interference in the last two federal election campaigns.
After recent reports about Chinese interference in Canada’s democracy, Caroline Simard said Thursday that her office has received serious complaints about meddling that demand a closer look.
Simard said her office — which probes all alleged election violations, not just claims of foreign meddling — has received 158 complaints concerning the 2019 election dealing with “10 situations.” There have been 16 complaints regarding “13 situations” in the 2021 campaign.
After Global News first reported claims last fall that China has “a vast campaign of foreign interference” in Canadian politics, Simard said there have been two complaints about Beijing’s alleged foreign interference.
Work is underway now, she said, to determine whether there’s merit to those complaints.
“I am seized with the importance of this issue … as well as the need to reassure Canadians under these exceptional circumstances,” Simard said.
“We have conducted a rigorous and thorough review of every complaint and every piece of information that has been brought to our attention concerning allegations of foreign interference,” she said. “This review is ongoing as I speak, to see if there’s tangible evidence of wrongdoing under the Canada Elections Act.”
WATCH | Trudeau’s national security adviser grilled over foreign meddling:
Top security adviser grilled over foreign meddling in Canadian elections
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s national security adviser was among the public officials grilled by MPs about Chinese meddling in Canadian democracy. Jody Thomas declined to provide specifics, but told MPs Beijing represents the ‘greatest threat.’
Simard said her office’s work is impartially conducted; there’s no link between her office and the federal government of the day, the public service or Elections Canada, the federal body that runs elections.
Canada’s election laws forbid anyone who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident from contributing to political parties, candidates, electoral district associations, leadership and nomination contestants. Foreign entities also can’t contribute to “third parties” registered to spend in an election.
During an election period, it is also illegal for any foreign person or entity to “unduly influence” an elector to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate or registered party.
Last month, Global News reported, citing unnamed sources, that national security officials briefed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about Liberal MP Han Dong.
The news outlet said CSIS has identified Dong as “a witting affiliate in China’s election interference networks.” Global also reported Dong was one of the 11 candidates allegedly supported by Beijing in the 2019 election.
CSIS reportedly told Trudeau that China’s consulate in Toronto floated cash to at least 11 federal election candidates “and numerous Beijing operatives” who worked as campaign staffers.
Global said Dong was preferred over another candidate because he was considered “a close friend of the Toronto Consulate.”
The news outlet said Chinese international students with fake addresses were allegedly bussed into Dong’s Toronto-area riding and coerced to vote in his favour at a nomination meeting.
Asked about legality of foreign sources paying for buses to support a nomination candidate, Stéphane Perrault, the chief electoral officer of Elections Canada, said such activity would be a clear violation of the Canada Elections Act.
Paying for buses would be considered “a contribution in-kind,” and only a Canadian citizen or permanent resident can make that sort of donation.
He said, if Elections Canada received a complaint like this, it would be referred to Simard’s office for an investigation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.P. Tasker is a journalist in CBC’s parliamentary bureau who reports for digital, radio and television. He is also a regular panellist on CBC News Network’s Power & Politics. He covers the Conservative Party, Canada-U.S. relations, Crown-Indigenous affairs, climate change, health policy and the Senate. You can send story ideas and tips to J.P. at john.tasker@cbc.ca.
