Canada slow to respond to foreign interference

The Canadian government's response to foreign interference  — notably by China — was at times slow and poorly coordinated, a public commission concluded on Tuesday.

Ottawa "took too long to act, and coordination was not always optimal" to counter threats, commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue told a news conference.

But overall Canada's "democratic institutions have remained robust in the face of attempted foreign interference," she said.

China — deemed to be the main meddler in Canadian affairs — has rejected the accusations. India, Russia, Pakistan and Iran were also accused of foreign interference.

The release of Hogue's seven-volume final report comes just months before Canadians could return to polls.