National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians launches review of Foreign Interference in Canada’s Democratic Processes

Ottawa, March 08, 2023 — The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) has met to consider the Prime Minister’s request that it complete a review to assess the state of foreign interference in federal electoral processes. Committee members come from all recognized parties and from both Houses of Parliament, and their work is non-partisan. Today, the Committee announces its launch of a review of foreign interference in Canada’s federal democratic processes pursuant to section 8(1)(a) of the NSICOP Act.

The Committee’s review will continue the work done in its previous review of the government’s response to foreign interference covering the period 2015 to 2018, which was tabled in Parliament in 2020. It will examine the state of foreign interference in Canada’s democratic processes since 2018. The Committee will equally consider the independent report prepared by Morris Rosenberg pursuant to the Cabinet Directive on the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol in the context of its review.

The Committee looks forward to engaging with other review bodies as required to avoid duplication as it develops its terms of reference for the current review.

“Foreign interference and influence have been identified as significant threats to the rights and freedoms of Canadians and Canadian society. The Committee recognizes the importance of preserving the integrity of our institutions, and looks forward to building upon its previous review of the government’s response to foreign interference,” said the Chair, the Hon. David McGuinty.

Background

NSICOP was established under the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act on June 22, 2017. It may review:

• the legislative, regulatory, policy, administrative and financial framework for national security and intelligence;
• any activity carried out by a department that relates to national security or intelligence, unless the activity is an ongoing operation and the appropriate Minister determines that the review would be injurious to national security; and,
• any matter relating to national security or intelligence that a minister of the Crown refers to the Committee.

NSICOP members hold the highest level of security clearance, are bound by the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act and meet in private.