Canada was classified as a “high-priority” target for Chinese interference in the run-up to the 2021 federal election, according to a top-secret intelligence assessment disclosed during the Hogue commission inquiry. The inquiry, led by Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue, is investigating potential foreign interference by countries such as China, Russia, and India in the past two Canadian elections, as well as examining how information related to foreign interference circulated within the federal government.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) threat assessment from July 2021 stated that “PRC [foreign interference] activity targeting Canada’s democratic institutions is primarily motivated by a desire to cultivate relationships with or support political candidates and incumbents who seem receptive or actively promote PRC viewpoints.” The report also emphasized that “Canada is a high-priority PRC FI target, and the party intends to use Canada and Canadians to proactively support PRC interests.”
While some portions of the nine-page document were redacted, most of its content was accessible. Other documents shared with the inquiry, especially those pertaining to China’s tactics, were entirely redacted.
During the preliminary hearings, the commission grappled with the challenge of conducting a public inquiry when a significant portion of the documentary evidence contains sensitive or classified government information.
CSIS Director David Vigneault, who appeared before the inquiry, explained the reasons behind redacting certain documents while not redacting others. He noted that in some cases, references to seemingly unclassified information could be used by foreign intelligence services to make deductions and analyze CSIS’s knowledge and interests, justifying the need for protection.
Vigneault emphasized that CSIS has adopted a tailored approach to sharing documents with the inquiry and has established a specialized unit to determine what information can be disclosed publicly. He stated that while CSIS aims to be as transparent as possible, its core mission revolves around maintaining secrecy.
Alia Tayyeb, Deputy Chief of Signals Intelligence at the Communications Security Establishment, mentioned that her agency has also implemented a similar setup to handle documents for the commission.
The discussions during this week’s national security hearings aim to set the stage for the upcoming round of public hearings scheduled for March. These hearings will delve into allegations of foreign interference by countries like China, India, and Russia in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections. The inquiry’s interim report is expected to be released on May 3.
