Trudeau Government Faces Criticism Over Foreign Interference in Canadian Elections, Commission Report Reveals

A government commission has criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration for its lack of transparency and slow response regarding foreign interference in Canadian politics. The report, released on Tuesday, highlighted attempts by foreign powers, including China and India , to meddle in the past two general elections. It emphasized the need to restore trust in Canada’s democratic institutions and proposed 51 recommendations to strengthen the electoral system.

Insufficient Action and Lack of Transparency

The commission's findings indicate that the government was insufficiently transparent about foreign interference and took too long to take action against these attempts. The report, which summarized 18 months of hearings, testimony, and examination of classified intelligence documents, emphasized the negative impact on public trust in democratic institutions.

Recommendations for Strengthening the Electoral System

Led by Court of Appeal justice Marie-Josée Hogue, the commission emphasized that the government's efforts to rebuild trust have been "piecemeal and underwhelming." The final report included 51 recommendations aimed at enhancing the electoral system, covering areas such as stricter rules for political parties, third-party financing, improved intelligence sharing, and heightened oversight of disinformation during campaigns.