A parliamentary committee published a report today outlining the implications of foreign interference in Canada and the necessary measures to counter it, including the establishment of a foreign agents registry that is still pending.

The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics announced its 88-page document after hearing testimony from 23 individuals between March and June, including former officials from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), former MPs, and representatives from community organizations.

The committee clarified that, unlike the work of other parliamentary committees on this issue, it decided to avoid focusing on election interference, preferring instead to focus on the rise of anti-foreign sentiment, the disclosure of unauthorized intelligence information relating to national security, and the risks associated with technological advancement.

The issue of foreign interference in the Canadian elections of 2019 and 2021 also came to light following a series of media revelations, including what was uncovered by the English-language network Global and the daily newspaper The Globe and Mail in November 2022.

Several reports, citing anonymous sources, have addressed attempted interference orchestrated by China during the last two federal election campaigns, including financing a clandestine network of candidates. According to these revelations, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was reportedly warned by intelligence agencies in January 2022, which the Canadian government denies.

Also in March, the Liberal government announced that it had allocated $56 million over five years to combat foreign interference. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is expected to receive the lion's share of this funding by April 2026 to support efforts to investigate threats and proactively work with diaspora communities particularly at risk of foreign interference targeting.

As part of its study, the committee primarily heard from witnesses discussing the effects of [Chinese interference] on the Canadian diaspora and the Uyghurs, who are suffering from a kind of dual harm, as the report indicates. They are facing an increase in anti-foreign sentiment against them while being specifically targeted by the activities of the Chinese Communist Party in Canada.

The committee, chaired by Conservative MP John Brassard, finds it absurd that Canadian citizens are facing such threats in Canada and urges the government to implement a series of recommendations, including legislative proposals in addition to establishing a "registry" of foreign agents.

The report also highlighted the necessity of inviting these communities to participate in formulating the measures needed to address the impacts of interference they are experiencing.