Canada's task force will address foreign election interference

Canada’s election security task force may be more open about foreign interference in the upcoming election. This group, known as the Security Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force, has been active since the 2019 federal election. It consists of senior officials from the national security agencies. In the past, the task force only spoke publicly if they believed there was a serious threat to Canada's ability to hold a fair election. Despite worries about foreign interference in the 2021 election, they did not release any warnings. A new guidance document suggests a change in this approach. John Hannaford, the clerk of the Privy Council, wrote the document to encourage more public announcements about foreign interference incidents. A spokesperson for the Privy Council Office stated that this could help raise awareness among citizens and maintain trust in elections. The panel recently took action when they detected foreign interference targeting Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland. They found misinformation being spread on WeChat, which reached millions of users. Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, who led a government commission on foreign interference, highlighted the need for the task force to be more transparent. She mentioned that they should provide clearer information about their decision-making processes, especially at the start of election campaigns. Hogue found that countries like China, Russia, and Iran have tried to interfere in Canadian elections in the past. She noted that China has particularly sought to influence elections at various levels, using disinformation to support candidates aligned with its interests.