The work has already started, Mr Mendicino said during his testimony before the House Procedures Committee on Thursday. He said he wanted the office to be operational as quickly as possiblebut gave no further details on the schedule.

Since last November, the committee has been investigating allegations of Chinese interference in Canada’s federal election, which Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, MP for the Bloc Québécois, said should have already resulted in policy changes.

We are concerned and want to maintain confidence in the water resistance of our choicesShe said. The weeks are passing quickly and there is urgency.

She pointed out that experts testified almost six months ago about laws that could be tightened to avoid interference. It has to be snappy enough because there are obviously a lot of flawsshe said to Mr. Mendicino. It is your responsibility and you have had six months to prepare and answer this fundamental question.

Mr Mendicino assured that his ministry is working on creating a national office against foreign interference, as promised in the budget. However, he said that the introduction is dependent on the passage of the budget law by Parliament.

We will remain vigilant in the implementation of this tool, he said. He added that this is part of a list of actions his government has committed to.

No calendar

The Liberal budget allocated $56 million over five years to address foreign interference, threats and covert activities. The majority of this amount goes to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to investigate threats and work proactively with diaspora communities.

The funds would also be used to set up a national counter-foreign interference bureau, which would help coordinate Canada’s response to threats from countries like China and Russia.

Despite the requests of the MPs and later the journalists, Mr. Mendicino did not propose a timetable for the opening of this office. Nor did he commit himself to Ms Gaudreau’s request to publish an action plan, including deadlines, within the next two weeks.

” There is a plan to set up this special office in my department. This is something we will be moving forward very quickly and urgently. »

Liberals also consider the relevance of introducing a registry of foreign agents, or persons paid to defend the interests of foreign states.

But Mendicino said Ottawa is still working out the details, including whether the registry should apply to those working for specific countries or all states, and whether Canada, like Australia and the United States, should apply the measures to non-nationals only , but also to citizens and permanent residents.

Mr Mendicino claimed that these considerations, as well as how such a register should be designed within the framework of charter rights, are among the following Very important questions that we must answer when creating this tool.

fear of stigma

The government is taking comments until May 9th. It will then publish a consultation report and propose regulations. But Mr Mendicino said some members of the diaspora communities avoided attending for fear of it targetedpresumably from a foreign country.

I also want to be proactive in proposing legislation that will create this registerhe has told reporters. It’s important to add a caveat as the concerns I’m hearing in the community regarding stigma are very realhe added.

The government’s slow progress on the two measures comes as opposition parties continue to call for an independent public inquiry to investigate allegations reported by the government globe and mail And Global Newsthat Beijing wanted to influence the 2019 and 2021 elections.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed former governor-general David Johnston as special rapporteur on the issue. He is expected to report by May 23 on whether or not a public inquiry is needed. The final recommendations are expected at the end of October.