Presents a point of view reflecting the company鈥檚 progressive values on an issue of public interest. Editorials are written by staff within the Star鈥檚 editorial board, which is independent of the newsroom.
That鈥檚 quite a relief, nothing more to see here, right? In fact, there is a lot more to see. , delivered under incredibly tight time constraints, provides troubling evidence of result-changing malevolence at the nomination and individual riding level and the corrosive effect these efforts have had on confidence in the electoral integrity of voting in this country. Our system may remain strong, but it is fraying from the constant drip, drip, drip of foreign involvement, primarily from China.
Hogue is warning that greater vigilance is needed.聽 鈥淯ndermining faith in democracy and government is a primary aim of many of the states that engage in foreign interference,鈥 Hogue wrote in her report. 鈥淭hey succeeded in part in 2019 and 2021 because some Canadians have now reduced trust in 91原创鈥檚 democratic process. This is perhaps the greatest harm 91原创 has suffered as a result of foreign interference.鈥
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The Liberals, it seems, are getting the message. On Monday, the government tabled legislation聽to establish the long-discussed foreign influence transparency registry, together with聽other measures to counter foreign interference such as tougher criminal offences. The聽Countering Foreign Interference Act聽would also allow better sharing of sensitive information about foreign meddling after serious concerns that previous intelligence wasn’t disseminated widely enough.
The evidence Canadians have heard about foreign meddling underscores the urgency of such actions.
Hogue points to activity in British Columbia during the 2021 election, particularly misinformation spread on Chinese-language media with ties to Beijing about then-Conservative Leader Erin O鈥橳oole鈥檚 platform and the former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu in the Vancouver-area of riding of Steveston-Richmond East. Chiu was the target of Chinese government-generated false narratives because he had advocated for a foreign influence registry. His attempts to counter the misinformation were ignored by that same Chinese-language media.
Hogue can鈥檛 say for sure whether Chiu was defeated because of this misinformation campaign launched by elements linked to Beijing, but she concludes that a good chunk of the electorate went to the polls unable to make an informed choice because of the spread of disinformation in that riding. The bureaucrats at the SITE TF (Security and Intelligence Threats to Election Task Force) were aware of the Chinese activity, but did nothing, assured that the media ecosystem had 鈥渃leansed itself鈥 by voting day but, as Hogue says, the damage had already been done.
Two years before that, Hogue pointed to the Liberal riding of Don Valley North to illustrate how local nominations become gateways to foreign interference.
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She cites intelligence which indicated China was behind the dispatch of busloads of international students from China to back Liberal Han Dong鈥檚 bid for the nomination. They were provided with false documents allowing them to vote for Dong, under alleged threats to their student visas, or implied consequences to their families in China.
The Liberals were almost certain to win the riding regardless, but in this case, the Chinese action may have affected the choice of MP. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was made aware of the allegations but found the security briefing he received inconclusive. Still, Hogue writes she can see no 鈥渇ollow up action鈥 on the question suggested by Trudeau and rightly points to the need for greater scrutiny of the nomination process.
Hogue also found issues with the flow of intelligence and a reluctance to share information with potential targets of interference, citing national security. 鈥淔oreign interference has an impact when there is a single instance where a ballot is cast in a certain way, or not cast at all, because of a foreign state鈥檚 direct or indirect enticement,鈥 Hogue wrote. 鈥淭his impact has likely been slight to date but may become more severe in the future.鈥
After much time wasted with partisan bickering over a foreign interference inquiry and the Liberal government鈥檚 wrong-headed decision to back David Johnston as a 鈥渟pecial rapporteur,鈥 Hogue is bringing some precision on the situation to Canadians.
She is also working to provide a road map for a more consistent and focused path to blunt interference in the future but the Liberals have much work to do on this file. Hogue鈥檚 work is essential. We look forward to her recommendations by the end of the year.
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