Foreign interference inquiry to release final report today

Final Report on Foreign Interference in Canadian Elections to be Released Today

After more than 16 months of investigation, the public inquiry examining foreign interference in Canadian elections is set to unveil its final report today. Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue’s report is anticipated to provide recommendations on how federal government agencies can enhance their defenses against foreign meddling.

The release of the report comes at a crucial time, with the federal Liberal leadership race nearing its conclusion in early March and a potential federal election on the horizon for this spring.

The inquiry’s work was conducted in two phases. The first phase focused on determining whether interference from countries like China and Russia had any impact on the outcomes of the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. In May, Hogue released an initial report stating that while there was potential for foreign interference to influence results in a small number of ridings, it could not be definitively confirmed.

“Our electoral systems remain robust,” Hogue stated. “Voters were able to exercise their rights, and there is no evidence to suggest any interference in the voting process.”

The second phase of the inquiry, which included public hearings in September and October, delved into the preparedness of Canadian government institutions in detecting and countering foreign interference. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s testimony during this phase drew attention when he claimed to have knowledge of Conservative parliamentarians involved in foreign meddling.

In response, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused Trudeau of falsehood and demanded the release of the names of MPs allegedly collaborating with foreign agents. A previous report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians had indicated that some parliamentarians were unwittingly involved in foreign interference.

Although the inquiry had access to the classified report, Hogue cautioned against expecting the disclosure of specific names due to the sensitive nature of the information. The origins of the federal inquiry stemmed from media reports last year alleging Chinese interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Originally slated for release by December 31, Hogue was granted a one-month extension. The final report is set to be made public later this morning.