Statement by Minister LeBlanc on the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions
Ottawa, Ontario – November 15, 2024 – The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, issued the following statement regarding the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions:
“Today, the Government of Canada is taking the next important step to protect the integrity of our democratic institutions and electoral processes by launching a Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference.
Foreign interference is a serious threat to the integrity of our democratic institutions and the security of our country. This inquiry will provide a comprehensive examination of the extent to which foreign actors have attempted to interfere in Canadian elections and other democratic processes.
The inquiry will be led by the Honourable Morris Rosenberg, a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Mr. Rosenberg is an experienced and respected legal expert who will conduct a thorough and impartial inquiry.
The inquiry will have a broad mandate to examine:
- The nature and extent of foreign interference in Canadian elections and other democratic processes
- The sources and methods of foreign interference
- The impact of foreign interference on the integrity of our democratic institutions
- Recommendations to strengthen Canada’s ability to prevent and respond to foreign interference
The inquiry will have the authority to compel witnesses to testify and produce documents. It will also have the authority to conduct hearings in public or in private.
The inquiry is expected to take up to two years to complete. The final report will be made public and will include recommendations to strengthen Canada’s ability to prevent and respond to foreign interference.
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the integrity of our democratic institutions and electoral processes. We are confident that this Public Inquiry will provide important insights and make valuable recommendations that will help us strengthen our democracy and protect it from foreign interference.”
– 30 –
Media Relations: Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities 819-953-1232 media@infc.gc.ca
Backgrounder:
Foreign interference in democratic processes is a serious threat to the integrity of our institutions and the security of our country. Foreign actors may attempt to interfere in elections, referendums, or other democratic processes in order to influence the outcome.
Foreign interference can take many forms, including:
- Covert funding of political parties or candidates
- Disinformation and propaganda campaigns
- Cyber attacks on electoral infrastructure
- Intimidation of voters or election officials
Foreign interference can have a significant impact on the integrity of our democratic institutions. It can undermine public trust in our electoral processes, make it difficult for voters to make informed choices, and give foreign actors undue influence over our political system.
The Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions will provide a comprehensive examination of the extent to which foreign actors have attempted to interfere in Canadian elections and other democratic processes. The inquiry will make recommendations to strengthen Canada’s ability to prevent and respond to foreign interference.
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the integrity of our democratic institutions and electoral processes. We are confident that this Public Inquiry will provide important insights and make valuable recommendations that will help us strengthen our democracy and protect it from foreign interference.
The AI has provided us with the news.
I’ve asked Google Gemini the following question, and here’s its response.
Canada All National News a new article on 2024-11-15 14:20 titled “Statement by Minister LeBlanc on the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
169