Canada is gearing up for its federal election on April 28, but foreign interference is becoming a growing concern. Senior officials are warning that countries like India, China, Pakistan, Iran, and Russia may try to disrupt the election process with disinformation campaigns.
These "hostile state actors" are believed to be targeting Canada’s large diaspora communities in an effort to influence voters and sway the election toward governments that are more sympathetic to their interests.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has raised alarms about the possible role of foreign powers in this election. According to Vanessa Lloyd, deputy director of operations for CSIS, these countries may adapt their tactics to make it even harder to detect their interference. In particular, China is believed to be using online methods, while India has been accused of providing secret financial support to preferred candidates in the past.
Ottawa has also pointed fingers at Russia for creating networks that could spread its propaganda in the lead-up to the election. These developments come as relations between Canada and its Asian partners have been on a downward spiral over the past two years.
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has accused India of being involved in the assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. In addition, Canada imposed heavy tariffs on Chinese vehicles and steel products last year, further straining ties.
Adding to the concerns, China is suspected of targeting Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s former finance minister, with a "malicious" campaign on the Chinese social media platform WeChat. The campaign, which was viewed by millions, took aim at Freeland’s leadership bid within the Liberal Party earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has faced similar accusations of foreign interference. It’s been suggested that India tried to influence the 2022 Conservative leadership race, helping Pierre Poilievre win the leadership position. However, Poilievre and his team deny any involvement or awareness of outside influence.
With foreign interference now a pressing issue for both major political parties, the upcoming federal election is expected to be closely watched by both domestic and international observers. Canada’s security agencies are working overtime to monitor and counter any foreign attempts to influence the democratic process.
