Canada’s targeted diaspora people are demanding stronger protections that could save lives, as well as greater awareness of the foreign threats they face.
Representatives from various communities told the federal inquiry Wednesday about the numerous challenges in combating foreign interference and oppression.
The commission’s latest hearings focus on detecting, preventing and countering foreign interference.
Catherine Leung, a policy adviser at Hong Kong Watch, said police formally take notes and express gratitude when people report being monitored, threatened or harmed by agents of a foreign regime.
“But for some members of the Hong Kong community I spoke to, this is the end of the story. There is no follow-up, no sign of progress, no sense of safety or closure,” Leung said.
“For these people, the ensuing silence can be just as unsettling as the initial threat. The lack of follow-up can leave them unsure whether their case is being pursued, and they may be more concerned about whether their case is being pursued than before seeking help.” I don’t feel safe either.”
Regular communication reassures victims that their cases are being taken seriously, builds trust in law enforcement and encourages future reporting, she said. .
Sikh community advocate Moninder Singh said government agencies were failing to share information quickly and concisely when lives were at stake.
Singh said there is a need to set clear procedures and coordinate policies at local, national and international levels to respond to threats from foreign powers.
He also called for stronger cybersecurity measures to protect people.
“When we are given these warnings about our lives, we are often told that we can be tracked via phone, GPS, etc.,” Singh told the study. “But we’re not educated and we don’t have the ability to actually protect ourselves. So cybersecurity education for individuals facing these types of threats is paramount.”
Farzaneh Fard of the Iranian Justice Group said it is critical to raise awareness among key agencies such as the judiciary, RCMP and Canadian Security Intelligence Agency about the activities of foreign agents linked to repressive regimes. .
“Comprehensive education and specialized training is essential to enable these agencies to effectively identify and respond to threats,” she said.
Judges, prosecutors and immigration officials need to be educated on tactics such as the use of false identities and forged documents, Fuld said.
She added that specialized teams should be established within the RCMP and CSIS to focus on foreign interference and threats.
Additionally, she advocated for a national campaign to educate the public about the risks, including abuse of Canada’s legal and immigration systems by hostile groups.
“At this time, members of our community who are the target of foreign interference or who are aware of the presence of Iranian regime officials in Canada are having a difficult time communicating this information to the appropriate authorities.” said Fard.
He said that disseminating information on how to contact authorities with relevant information would protect members and ensure that security services could be alerted quickly.
Teresa Woopaw, who served as a member of the Alberta legislature from 2008 to 2015, told the inquiry that all Canadians should be concerned about foreign interference in our electoral processes and democratic institutions.
But she also said members of the Chinese community are holding off on the idea of running for office because they don’t want their loyalties to be publicly questioned.
Woopaw, who has been chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation since 2018, said “quite a few people” have told her of their desire to serve in public office.
“Almost all of them are saying, ‘But now is not the time.'”
She said these concerns will have a generational impact as fewer Chinese Canadians are elected to public office.
He said some people worry that if they donate to a candidate’s campaign, they will be accused of trying to interfere in the election or that they will cause trouble for the candidate.
Wu Po was one of several members of the Chinese community who spoke to the survey about the unintended chilling effect of the current public debate over foreign interference.
Anonymous leaks of intelligence documents to the media regarding alleged Chinese interference in Canada’s election process have prompted calls for an ongoing federal investigation.
Montreal student Wawa Lee told the inquiry that the obsession with foreign interference, fueled by authorities and opportunistic politicians, has led to a sense of hysteria.
“I am against foreign interference. If there is, I would like to see the government take action, but not at the expense of local communities,” she said.
The commission also provided insight into the broader consultation process on Wednesday.
In addition to the voices heard at the public hearing, the inquiry collected more than 145 written submissions from the public. Additionally, we have received over 460 survey responses to date.
The study also conducted 22 interviews with 105 people from the diaspora, including Chinese, Eritreans, Falun Gong practitioners, Hong Kongers, Iranians, Russians, Sikhs, Tamils, Tibetans, Tigrayans, Ukrainians, and Uyghurs. A meeting was held. Summaries of these meetings will be published at a later date, with some information redacted to respect privacy.
Some of the proposals so far include:
- Increase government transparency about foreign interference risks and responses
- Build partnerships between diaspora communities and government, including law enforcement agencies
- Improving the cultural knowledge and proficiency of government representatives who interact with victims of foreign interference and transnational repression
- Public education, awareness, and assistance regarding foreign threats
- Media literacy resources and anti-racism education for the public.
- Better efforts to publicly fact-check information related to common disinformation topics
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2024.