With intense focus on the issue across Canada and confusion among some diplomats that their work could cross the line from influence to intervention, Canada’s foreign affairs minister Last month, he briefed international envoys on foreign interference.
David Morrison, Canada’s deputy minister of international affairs, told The Canadian Press in an interview that there is a difference between interference and influence, and that the latter is the job of diplomats.
“The public investigation and reporting may have created uncertainty,” he said. “Diplomats had legitimate questions about where to draw the line in Canada, and we sought to provide clarity on that.”
The Liberal Party last year convened a commission of inquiry into foreign interference following media reports and pressure from opposition parties. The final report is expected to be submitted by the end of January.
An interim report released in May said foreign interference by countries such as China, India and Russia did not affect the overall outcome of the 2019 and 2021 general elections. Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue said it was possible, but not certain, that the results of the races in a small number of riders were affected by interference.
“Canadians can have absolute confidence in the integrity of our last two general elections,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in an interview Tuesday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in his evidence to the inquiry in October that he would brief diplomats on the issue. He held the press conference on November 21st.
Prior to each of the past three federal elections, Global Affairs Canada sent out a so-called diplomatic circular, a formal notice to all accredited diplomatic missions stating that Ottawa would not support or fund any political party or group. He said he was looking forward to it.
At a press conference on Nov. 21, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told diplomats that they can publicly support or oppose Canadian government policies, but they cannot discredit a particular political party or undermine Canadian democracy. He said disinformation cannot be spread with the aim of “undermining the trust of the government.”
A slideshow shared at the press conference said concerns about interference in 2021 and beyond are “broad-reaching, not just elections” and that for Canada, which has many dispersed communities, “the tense geopolitical situation increases vulnerability.” “It’s increasing,” he said.
The slideshow encourages “public engagement” with Canadians and officials, including hosting events and taking positions on Canada’s national priorities.
But it said “covert influence,” such as influencing a nomination contest or conducting an online disinformation campaign, exceeded the limit, as did “covert, deceptive, or threatening conduct.” .
It would also be wrong to “obscure foreign involvement in an activity,” provide funds to candidates directly or through in-kind contributions, and “deceit intended to manipulate individuals within Canada.” .
This week’s issue: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accuses Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre of playing partisanship amid foreign interference in an escalating diplomatic dispute with India. Unrest grows in the Freedom Caucus. Will there be another cabinet reshuffle?
Larisa Galazza, who helps run the ministry’s Office for Democratic Restoration, told diplomats that the growing public awareness of interference meant it was important to avoid even the perception that red lines had been crossed. He said he meant it.
Her speech notes, provided by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, say Canada is “intensifying its efforts to set expectations.”
“This meeting demonstrates how seriously we take this issue,” Galaza’s memo said.
She said “attempts to control or unduly influence members of diaspora communities” are unacceptable and that migrants have the right to vocally criticize their homeland.
Her memo states that diplomats can lobby members of Congress but cannot “convey threats or offer rewards in exchange for assistance.”
And she pointed out that all of these activities are equally unacceptable if done through a proxy.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said such communication was necessary because international agreements governing the role of diplomats apply everywhere but are not consistently understood.
“There’s a wide range of opinions about what constitutes influence and what constitutes interference,” he said, adding that some countries believe there are limits to what is acceptable as steps beyond what Canadians can tolerate. pointed out.
“In some national contexts, interference is considered to mean tampering with the ballot box,” he said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the meeting began by recognizing that in Canada “we acknowledge there is no agreed definition, but this is our home and we wanted to make sure everyone understood the rules.” Ta.
“We have made it clear that, with fair warning, accredited diplomats can expect to hear from us if they engage in behavior that we say crosses the line.”
Although Global Affairs does not monitor the actions of diplomats in Canada, the department’s regional teams are in frequent contact with diplomatic missions, and security officials alert the department whenever they see questionable activity. There is.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his department is taking a variety of approaches to helping foreign countries understand Canada’s views on permissible activities.
Formal summons attract media attention, but the ministry can also summon ambassadors to meet with anyone from Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly to junior secretaries, depending on the severity of the situation.
International Affairs Canada can expel diplomats and close embassies abroad, but it can also make its case in informal chats at cocktail receptions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: “The essence of diplomacy is always to communicate, and this is traditionally done in diplomatic circles at social events and dinner parties.”
In February, senior diplomat Weldon Epp told Congress that the Justice Department and RCMP were holding workshops with the Indian government “to explain what the legal standards would be” for extraditing people to India on terrorism charges. testified that he had done so.
“How India defines extremism and terrorism is not always considered in our legal system,” Weldon Epp told lawmakers at the time.
Looking ahead to the next federal election, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said his biggest concern is emboldening adversaries to use artificial intelligence in attacks. He is particularly concerned about deepfakes. Deepfakes are parody videos or images that can fool people into thinking a politician has said or done something they haven’t actually done.
“The foreign interference that we’ve seen continues to evolve,” he said. “Our defenses against it need to continue to evolve as well.”
