Final Report on Foreign Interference in Canada’s Elections Set to Be Released

After a thorough investigation that involved reviewing numerous documents and listening to extensive testimony, the inquiry examining foreign interference in Canada’s last two federal elections is scheduled to unveil its final report on January 28th.

Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue’s findings, along with any potential recommendations, are eagerly awaited as parliamentarians gear up for a potential spring election.

Over the past year, Hogue and her team of legal experts have delved into the depths of foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections by various countries such as China, Russia, and India. The inquiry focused on determining whether pertinent information was disseminated to the right authorities in a timely manner.

In the initial report released in May, foreign interference was dubbed a “stain” on Canada’s electoral system. However, Hogue clarified that these meddling attempts did not sway the outcome of which political party formed the government.

The report did acknowledge the possibility that a handful of ridings may have been influenced by foreign interference, but definitive conclusions could not be drawn.

The latter part of the inquiry zeroed in on the capabilities of agencies and officials to detect and counteract foreign meddling in future elections.

The federal inquiry was prompted by media allegations last year, citing confidential sources and classified materials, implicating China in meddling in the electoral processes of 2019 and 2021.

Hogue’s final report was initially slated for release by the end of the previous year but was postponed following an extension.