Green Party leader wants Parliament to adopt foreign interference changes before election

Federal political parties need to put aside their differences and work together to quickly adopt the recommendations made by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue’s inquiry into foreign interference before the next election, according to Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. Hogue’s report, released on Tuesday, includes 51 recommendations, with 24 that she believes should be implemented before the next federal election.

However, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proroguing Parliament during his party’s leadership race, it has become challenging to enact any changes that require amendments to legislation, such as the Canada Elections Act. Given the impending possibility of a snap election, there is a sense of urgency to implement these recommendations to safeguard Canada’s democratic processes.

May emphasized the need for all parties to come together and swiftly pass these recommendations, even suggesting that it could be done in as little as 30 minutes. She also stressed the importance of each party taking responsibility for implementing the recommendations that pertain to them, such as ensuring that party members are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

While the government has announced additional funding to combat foreign interference, it remains unclear whether they will act on Hogue’s recommendations before the next election. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh expressed willingness to adopt the report’s recommendations related to political parties but noted that changes to election laws are the responsibility of the Liberal government.

In her report, Hogue highlighted the real threat of foreign interference in Canadian democratic institutions, particularly through disinformation campaigns on social media platforms. To address this, she proposed various measures, including restricting foreign entities from contributing to third parties and updating election laws to combat misinformation.

Security and intelligence expert Wesley Wark praised Hogue’s recommendations for improving intelligence, adopting a foreign interference strategy, and enhancing parliamentary security. However, he acknowledged that implementing legislative changes could take time and require the commitment of future governments.

As Canada faces the looming threat of foreign interference in the upcoming election, it is imperative for all political parties to prioritize national interests over partisan agendas and work together to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process. By swiftly enacting Hogue’s recommendations, Canada can fortify its defenses against external meddling and ensure fair and transparent elections.