Elections Canada is subject to multiple cyberattacks daily, as recently revealed by the institution, which would not be the only target of attempts by foreign countries to interfere in Canada’s parliamentary system.

• Also read: [GRANDE ENQUÊTE] Canada spied on from all sides by foreign powers

Foreign interference is on the minds of many in Ottawa these days. In addition to the special committee of lawmakers examining relations between Canada and the People’s Republic of China, another House Procedures and Affairs Committee held several sessions this fall on foreign interference during the election.

Summoned before that committee in November, Director-General Stéphane Perreault announced that Elections Canada’s website was subject to cyberattacks “every day” but that until now there had been no “breakage” in the IT infrastructure.

“We have no mechanism to know if they are from abroad or from Canada. I assume they are mostly foreign,” said Mr. Perreault of these attacks.

DISTURBANCES

In addition, several elements point to Chinese interventions in the last federal elections. In particular, Global News revealed that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had been briefed by Canadian intelligence agencies on covert Chinese funding of 11 candidates. He denied being informed.

The case of Conservative MP Kenny Chiu, who was defeated while riding Steveston-Richmond East in British Columbia, also raises many questions. Highly critical of the Chinese government, he would have been the victim of Beijing’s disinformation campaign among his Chinese-born voters, which Chinese diplomatic officials have formally denied.

For its part, the Canadian government says these possible interference attempts had no impact on the 2015 and 2019 election results.

In mid-December, however, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly described these attempts at interference as “deeply disturbing”. “We will never accept any form of foreign interference in our democracy. One point, that’s all,” Minister Joly insisted in the parliamentary committee. She also said she raised the issue with her Chinese counterpart at the recent G20 summit in Indonesia.

NOT SURPRISING?

Another allegation of interference: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has launched an investigation into unofficial Chinese Communist Party “police stations” who allegedly harassed expatriates on Canadian soil.

It was the human rights organization Safeguard Defenders who revealed there would be five such police stations, including in the Toronto area and in Vancouver. Information also denied by Beijing.

Such allegations came as a surprise to former Canadian ambassador to China from 2012 to 2016, Guy Saint-Jacques, who urged caution during his testimony in the parliamentary committee. “Chinese interference must be fought at all costs, not only within the Chinese community in Canada but also within our institutions. […] The Chinese use all possible means to create interference. They take advantage of the fact that we are an open society.”