Timeline: Measures to combat foreign interference in elections – 2016-2024

Foreign interference poses an evolving threat to Canada’s democratic institutions. To combat this, the Government of Canada is continually reviewing and updating our strategies to detect, disrupt, and counter this threat.

Below are a few of the key measures the Government has implemented since 2016 to combat foreign interference, strengthen our institutions and our democracy, and protect our electoral processes.

2016-2017

• Minister of Democratic Institutions mandate letter: In 2017, the Minister was mandated to lead the Government of Canada’s efforts to defend the Canadian electoral process from cyber threats. This included asking the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE) to analyze risks to Canada’s political and electoral activities from hackers, and to release this assessment publicly.
• The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians was created to review Canada’s national security and intelligence organizations and provide the Prime Minister with an annual report, and special reports when needed. Since its launch, the Committee has produced a number of comprehensive reports on issues ranging from foreign interference, to cyber threats, to diversity and inclusion within the security and intelligence community.
• Communications Security Establishment Canada initiatives:
  • Commissioning of biannual reports on cyber threats to Canada’s democratic process.
  • Providing briefings to registered political parties on their public threat report.
  • Offering briefings to Elections Canada on threat reports.

2018

• G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM): This secretariat was established to strengthen G7 coordination to identify and respond to foreign threats to democracies.
• The Elections Modernization Act (Bill C-76): This bill resulted in a generational modernization of the Canada Elections Act that included measures to combat foreign influence and online disruption.  
• Paris Call for the Trust and Security in Cyberspace (Paris Call): The Government of Canada pledged support for the Paris Call, an international declaration which calls for states, the private sector, and civil society to work together to promote security in cyberspace.

2019

• The Plan to Protect Canada’s Democracy: The Government announced a plan to protect Canada’s democracy from threats and help ensure the 2019 election was free and fair. Through this plan:
  • The Critical Election Incident Public Protocol (CEIPP) was a mechanism created to ensure clear and consistent communications with Canadians during the writ period about incidents that threaten the integrity of a federal election.
  • The Digital Citizen Initiative (DCI) was launched and contributed $7 million to more than 20 projects that encouraged critical thinking about online disinformation and involvement in the democratic process.
  • Classified threat briefings and cybersecurity guidance to political parties and election administrators.
  • The Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force was created to coordinate Government of Canada collection and analysis efforts concerning threats to Canadas federal elections process.
  • The G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) was activated to strengthen coordination among G7 democracies in responding to threats to democracy.
  • The Canada Declaration on Electoral Integrity Online was released to guide social and digital platforms to ensure integrity, transparency and authenticity ahead of the 2019 federal election.
• 2019 update: Cyber Threats to Canada's Democratic Process: CSE published this report as a follow-up to the 2017 edition.
• The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency was created as an independent government agency with the mandate to review and investigate all Government of Canada national security and intelligence activities to ensure that they are lawful, reasonable and necessary.

2020

• Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace: The Government of Canada became a co-lead for Principle 3 (Defend Electoral Processes), along with Microsoft and the Alliance for Securing Democracy, to take part in leading activities on election interference and building international capacity in this area. The Paris Call Principle 3 co-leads put together a series of workshops on the following topics:
  • Improving multi-stakeholder information sharing
  • Defining foreign interference
  • COVID-19 contingencies, mitigation and response
  • Countering interference in election infrastructure
  • Empowering citizens
• Independent assessment of the implementation of the CEIPP: The report by James Judd, covering the implementation and effectiveness of the CEIPP in addressing threats to the 2019 election, was released in May 2020. The assessment concluded that overall, the CEIPP was implemented successfully during the 2019 general election and that it was an important tool to protect our elections from traditional forms of interference. As per Judd’s recommendations, the Cabinet Directive on the CEIPP underwent an independent assessment and was updated ahead of the 2021 federal election.

2021

• Updates to the Plan to Protect Canada’s Democracy: Updates included changes to the CEIPP and a new focus on building a healthy information ecosystem online.
• The following reports on foreign interference and threats to Canada’s democratic processes were published:
  • Foreign Interference Threats to Canada's Democratic Process (Canadian Security Intelligence Service)
  • Foreign Interference and You (Canadian Security Intelligence Service)
  • Cyber Threats to Canada's Democratic Process: July 2021 Update (Canadian Security Intelligence Service)
• Multistakeholder Insights: A Compendium on Countering Election Interference: As a result of the workshops in 2020, the Paris Call Principle co-leads developed this compendium, a good practice guide to help build global expertise and understanding about the best way to counter disinformation.

2022

• G7 RRM Annual Reports: During the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers meeting in London, Foreign Ministers committed the G7 RRM to producing annual thematic reports. The reports highlight different aspects of the evolving threat landscape. At the request of G7 Foreign Ministers, the 2021 annual report focused on disinformation as an increasingly prominent aspect of foreign interference.
• Budget 2022 provided:
  • $2 million annually for the Protecting Democracy Unit at the Privy Council Office to coordinate, develop, and implement government wide measures designed to combat disinformation and protect our democracy. This investment supports the unit's efforts to build institutional and public resiliency through sustained central leadership and coordination, enhancing our ability to respond to threats. Through these initiatives, the unit will work to ensure a resilient democratic system capable of effectively countering disinformation.
  • $13.4 million over 5 years and $2.8 million ongoing to renew and expand the RRM.
• Fall Economic Statement 2022: The Digital Citizen Initiative was extended, with an investment of $31 million over four years.

2023

• Independent assessment of CEIPP: The report by Morris Rosenberg, covering the 2021 Canadian general election, was released in February 2023. The assessment found that the CEIPP worked well and should be maintained with some suggested improvements.
• Countering an evolving threat: Update on recommendations to counter foreign interference in Canada’s democratic institutions: This report to the Prime Minister addresses the recommendations from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians in 2018 and 2019, the Judd Report, and the Rosenberg Report. The report summarizes the actions that have been taken to address the recommendations and proposes further action to address outstanding items.
• The Independent Special Rapporteur on Foreign Interference: This role was created as part of a series of measures to help combat foreign interference and strengthen confidence in Canada’s federal electoral process and democratic institutions. The Independent Special Rapporteur issued a report outlining recommendations on protecting Canada’s democracy.
• SITE Task Force: The Task Force was activated for the first time for a by-election. It was activated to provide enhanced monitoring and assessment of foreign interference threats during five by-elections in 2023. This included the release of public reports with SITE’s assessment.
• The Canadian Digital Media Research Network (CDMRN): The Government of Canada invested $5.5 million to support the CDMRN, to strengthen Canadians’ information resilience by researching how quality of information, including disinformation narratives, impacts Canadians’ attitudes and behaviours and by supporting strategies for Canadians’ digital literacy.
• The Government of Canada announced the establishment of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions.
• The National Counter-Foreign Interference Coordinator was established to coordinate Government of Canada efforts to combat foreign interference.

2024

• Introduction of the Electoral Participation Act (Bill C-65): This Bill aims to remove barriers to voting and encourage voter participation, better protect personal information, and further strengthen electoral protection measures, including against foreign interference.
• Tools for Canadians: The Protecting Democracy Toolkits and Countering Disinformation Guidebook for Public Servants were released. Designed to help identify and become more resilient to disinformation and foreign interference, the toolkits and guidebook were tailored to the realities of elected officials and public office holders, public servants and community leaders.
• The Foreign Interference Commission released its Initial Report of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions.
• The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians and the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency each conducted a review on foreign interference during the 43rd and 44th federal general elections. This was a result of measures announced by the Government to take further action on foreign interference and strengthen Canadians’ confidence in our democracy.
• SITE Task Force made permanent for ongoing and future by-elections: The Government of Canada announced that the SITE Task Force will not only provide enhanced monitoring and assessment of foreign interference threats during general elections, but also during all by-election periods.
• An Act respecting countering foreign interference (Bill C-70) received Royal Assent: Bill C-70, which was introduced May 6 and received Royal Assent on June 20, bolsters Canada’s ability to detect, disrupt and counter foreign interference threats to all people in Canada, including members of diaspora communities. The Bill puts in place a series of new measures and legislative amendments to national security and criminal laws.