Election watchdog saw major spike in complaints during spring campaign

The Commissioner of Canada Elections has reported a significant increase in complaints regarding the integrity of this year’s election, with a staggering sevenfold rise compared to the previous two elections. Preliminary data reveals that over 16,000 complaints were received during the campaign period, a stark contrast to the approximately 1,800 complaints in 2021 and 2,600 in 2019.

Commissioner Caroline Simard expressed appreciation for Canadians’ engagement and awareness of the Elections Act, as well as their confidence in the organization’s ability to uphold the integrity of the electoral process. Despite the presence of an “amplification phenomenon” where a single issue can result in multiple complaints, the volume of concerns raised by Canadians was twice as high as in the previous two campaigns.

In recent years, Ottawa has been increasingly concerned about foreign interference in elections, culminating in a public inquiry led by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, whose final report was released in January. The inquiry shed light on the potential threats posed by foreign actors and artificial intelligence during the election process.

An internal briefing note prepared for Commissioner Simard highlighted artificial intelligence as a “high” risk for the spring election. However, despite apprehensions surrounding foreign interference and AI, Simard noted that her office received fewer complaints than anticipated on these issues. She reassured the public that, based on current observations and information, there is no evidence to suggest that the election outcome was compromised in any way.

Nevertheless, the news release emphasized that further investigation into complaints may reveal additional concerns related to AI and foreign interference. A substantial number of complaints were found to fall outside of Simard’s mandate, with a significant portion related to election advertising. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 complaints have been resolved, indicating ongoing efforts to address and investigate reported issues.

The Commissioner’s office remains committed to upholding the integrity of Canada’s electoral process and addressing any concerns raised by the public. As complaints are further analyzed, additional insights may emerge regarding potential threats to the election process. Citizens are encouraged to remain vigilant and engaged in safeguarding the democratic principles that underpin the nation’s electoral system.