Ottawa tables bill to counter foreign interference
And not respecting countering foreign interference. The bill tabled Monday includes a suite of measures to counter interference in Canada’s democratic processes by the likes of China, India, Iran and others. We’re taking action to adapt and to respond to a world where life, and consequently, threats, are increasingly moving to the online realm. It enhances our ability to address transnational threats or violence by foreign governments. And those who work on their behalf? One of those new measures? The creation of a foreign agent registry, an idea critics said is long overdue. If a Canadian food bank must register to lobby a Liberal minister, paid foreign agents should have to register as well. Anyone in Canada will be required to register if they go to work for any foreign entity, a government or a foreign business, and if they are engaged in any way in policy, development or politics. This registry would be overseen by an independent Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner. The bill also creates a new class of crimes involving political interference. It broadens the definition of sabotage and it gives ceases new tools to combat clandestine interference. But MPs want more done and on Wednesday are expected to vote for a motion calling on the government to ban any foreign national involved in foreign interference. The government wants to get the bill through Parliament as fast as it can because it’s going to be a year or more after the bill is passed to set up the foreign agent registry and put other measures in place. And that means it’s a very tight timeline, given that the next general election is scheduled for the fall of 2025. David Aiken, Global News, Ottawa.