Where Federal Parties Stand on Foreign Interference, Transnational Repression as Election Nears

A man enters the hearing room during the Public Inquiry into Foreign Election Interference in Ottawa on Sept. 16, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Canada’s major political parties have laid out their positions on foreign interference and transnational repression in response to a joint letter backed by dozens of civil society organizations. The parties’ responses reveal “clear differences in tone, emphasis, and commitment,” the groups said.

The Canadian Coalition for a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry, along with the Human Rights Coalition, in an April 3 joint letter called on major federal parties to take a clear public stance on influence operations by authoritarian regimes such as China, Russia, and Iran, as well as transnational repression activities affecting diaspora communities in Canada.

The joint letter, endorsed by more than 40 civil society groups—including human rights NGOs, think tanks, and advocacy groups representing communities targeted by transnational repression—sought to gather information Canadian voters could use as reference in the federal election, scheduled for April 28.

“Transnational repression is not theoretical—it’s happening in Canada right now,” said Sarah Teich, spokesperson for the Human Rights Coalition, in an April 22 press release.

“Authoritarian governments harass, monitor, and coerce individuals on Canadian soil. We welcome the clear commitments made by some parties, but we urge all federal leaders to treat this issue with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.”

The groups asked the parties’ positions on three key issues: first, the “full and timely” implementation of the foreign influence transparency registry as proposed in Bill C-70; second, the development of a national strategy to address transnational repression; and third, their commitment to disrupting “covert” foreign influence.

Bill C-70, “An Act respecting countering foreign interference,” received royal assent in June 2024. A key part of the legislation is creating a foreign influence registry, requiring anyone working with a foreign entity to report to the foreign influence transparency commissioner when those activities relate to Canada’s political processes.

The parties’ positions on foreign interference and transnational repression were released on April 22, a day after officials from the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) warned that Conservative Party candidate Joe Tay, running for the Toronto riding of Don Valley North, has been targeted by a Beijing-linked transnational repression operation through social media.

Tay is a Canadian citizen and one of several pro-democracy activists targeted by Hong Kong authorities, who have issued international bounties on Tay and other activists.

The transnational repression campaign, which spread negative content about Tay, was carried out on platforms commonly used by Chinese-language speakers in Canada, officials said on April 21. At least one of the Facebook accounts involved was linked to Chinese regime authorities and pro-Beijing groups in Hong Kong.

Liberal Party

In its response to the civil society groups’ joint letter, the Liberal Party highlighted the measures taken by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to combat foreign interference, and pledged that a new government led by Liberal Leader Mark Carney would build on those efforts.

“Foreign interference is one of the most serious threats facing Canadians and Canadian institutions,” reads the party’s response. “When hostile and malicious foreign actors attempt to interfere with our democracy, it’s to sow division and undermine our values.”

It mentions past actions, including investments in national security agencies such as CSIS and CSE, the passing of legislation to “strengthen and modernize” the tools available to those agencies, and the criminalization of transnational repression activities.

The party says Carney would “respond” to the foreign influence registry, but the Liberals’ letter “does not address the registry’s delayed implementation,” civil society groups noted. The party also pledged to expand security measures, including the hiring of 1,000 additional RCMP officers.

Earlier this month, SITE identified an information operation linked to Beijing, seeking to influence Chinese-Canadian voters on Carney by spreading both positive and negative narratives.

An analysis by The Epoch Times found the content was generally more positive toward Carney, and said he would deepen cooperation with China.

When asked by reporters why he thought China was promoting positive narratives about him, Carney said he had “absolutely no idea.” At a later press conference, the Liberal leader said Beijing is one of the biggest foreign interference threats to Canada, and that Ottawa is countering it.

Conservative Party

Responding to the civil society groups’ letter, the Tories committed to fast-tracking the implementation of Bill C-70, saying that a Conservative government would “take foreign interference and transnational repression seriously.”

The Tories’ response was issued by incumbent Conservative candidate Michael Chong, the party’s foreign affairs critic. Chong himself has been a target of the Chinese Community Party because of his criticism of Beijing’s rights abuses.

“Notably, the foreign influence transparency registry has not yet been implemented by the Liberal government,” Chong wrote. “Conservatives believe this should be a priority.”

Chong pledged to ensure the RCMP can fulfill its mandate, including combatting transnational repression and foreign interference in Canada. He also said a Conservative government would “heed the advice” of Canada’s national security experts.

He also said money laundering often accompanies foreign interference, and that the Tories are committed to “reforming and strengthening “ money-laundering laws.

Bloc Québécois

The Bloc said it supports the creation of a foreign influence transparency registry, and that it has been pressing the government to establish it.

“Despite the adoption of C-70, the government still hasn’t created the registry, which we can only deplore,” the party wrote in French.

The Bloc noted it would support a shift to public funding for political parties, as recommended in the Hogue report on foreign interference, saying such a change would reduce the parties’ vulnerability to foreign interference by reducing reliance on large private donors.

The party also pledged to reintroduce Bill C-290, “An Act to amend the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act,” to increase protections for whistleblowers. The act failed to pass second reading in the Senate last year.

The Bloc also voiced support for the creation of a Canadian Financial Crimes Agency and said it would back efforts to strengthen it. The agency, announced by Ottawa in Budget 2022, has not yet been established.

New Democratic Party (NDP)

In its response, the NDP said it was “deeply disappointed” that Bill C-70 has yet to be implemented, noting that neither Trudeau nor Carney had appointed a commissioner to enforce the legislation.

The NDP called Bill C-70 an “important step in bolstering deterrence and defence against foreign state actors,” and pledged to ensure a foreign agent registry is put in place.

“Foreign interference is a very serious issue, and it is one that should transcend partisan politics,” the party wrote. “We know that diaspora groups have been dealing with threats and attempted interference for far too long. Transnational repression is unacceptable.”

The NDP said it is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Hogue report, and that it will work with diaspora groups and organizations to “tackle this head on.”

“We will take new measures to protect Canada from acts of misinformation and disinformation by news and social media outlets, including supporting digital literacy initiatives and tackling online discrimination, misinformation and hate,” the party wrote.

Green Party

The Green Party also said it is committed to establishing a foreign influence transparency registry, and that it will push for a registry that is “clear, effective, and responsible,” without affecting legitimate civic engagement.

It says its foreign policy plan is based on values like “peace, human rights, and strong democracies.”

“The Green Party of Canada shares deep concern about the intimidation, surveillance, and coercion that diaspora communities in Canada face from authoritarian regimes,” the party wrote, adding that it backs “stronger protections” for Canada against foreign interference.

The party proposes creating a National Cyber Defence Agency to combat digital threats like disinformation and intimidation campaigns. It says it supports reforming policing to ensure it is “accountable, transparent, and inclusive,” and that it will also advocate to secure natural resources and critical infrastructure from foreign interference.

To address “covert influence” by authoritarian regimes, the party says it would strengthen protections against foreign meddling in Canadian elections through measures such as expanding third-party political financing rules and incorporating AI-based threat detection.

People’s Party of Canada

The People’s Party of Canada (PPC) pointed to “mass immigration” as a major cause of foreign interference. It argues that, due to Canada’s multiculturalism, newcomers are not encouraged to integrate into Canadian society but instead tend to preserve their culture by surrounding themselves with other immigrants.

“Many stay loyal to their country of origin instead of becoming Canadians,” the party wrote. “This is why it is so easy for foreign governments to continue to have an influence in immigrant communities in Canada.”

The party says it regards foreign interference as a “malevolent influence,” and that a PPC government would ensure intelligence agencies have the necessary tools to counter it. The party added it would fight foreign interference by putting a moratorium on immigration for “as many years as necessary to solve this issue.”

It also said it would deport all people who have overstayed their visas.

Civil society groups welcomed the parties’ initiatives, but said the parties still need to ramp up their response to foreign interference.

“The responses we received reflect a growing awareness across party lines of the serious threat posed by authoritarian foreign regimes,” said Gloria Fung, spokesperson for the Canadian Coalition for a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry.

“But Canadians cannot afford more delays. We need swift implementation of Bill C-70 and a comprehensive strategy that protects vulnerable communities.”

Noé Chartier contributed to this report.