Canada slow to respond to foreign interference
Commissioner Justice Marie-Josee Hogue speaks to reporters after the release of the final report of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, January 28, 2025. Photo REUTERS
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.