OTTAWA — The Liberal government has announced a probe into foreign meddling in Canadian affairs. Here is what you need to know about it.
WHAT: A public inquiry into foreign interference in federal electoral processes and democratic institutions. It will look at meddling by China, Russia and other foreign countries or actors, and assess the capacity of federal agencies to detect, deter and counter foreign interference.
WHY: Opposition parties have been pressing the Liberal government for months to call a formal inquiry into allegations of meddling in Canada's public affairs, including federal election campaigns.
WHO: To be led by Marie-Josée Hogue, who has been a Quebec Court of Appeal judge since June 2015. As a lawyer, her main areas of practice were corporate commercial litigation, civil litigation and professional liability.
WHEN: Work begins Sept. 18. An interim report is due by the end of February, and a final report by December 2024.
HOW: Appointed under the Inquiries Act, Hogue will work independently from government with a full range of powers. She may compel witness testimony on matters within federal jurisdiction, and will have broad access to classified and unclassified documents. It is unclear how much of her work will be done behind closed doors.
QUOTE: "It is vital that our electoral processes and democratic institutions be protected from foreign interference." — Marie-Josée Hogue, Sept. 7, 2023.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 7, 2023.
The Canadian Press
