Canada’s main spy agency has accused India and Pakistan of attempting to interfere in the country’s most recent general elections. The reports, released as part of a federal commission of inquiry investigating foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 national votes, suggest that both countries engaged in covert activities to influence the outcomes of the elections.
According to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), India allegedly provided illicit financial support to specific Canadian politicians in an effort to secure the election of pro-India candidates or gain influence over elected officials. The CSIS also accused Pakistan of covertly trying to influence federal politics before the 2019 elections to advance Pakistani interests.
While it is uncommon for governments to level accusations against other sovereign nations, the tensions between Canada and India, as well as suspicions of foreign interference in electoral outcomes, prompted these allegations. The CSIS detailed India’s focus on specific electoral districts with Indo-Canadian communities supportive of the Khalistani separatist cause, using Canadian proxies for its operations to obscure any direct links to New Delhi.
India swiftly refuted the allegations as baseless, emphasizing that it is not their policy to interfere in other countries’ democratic processes. Pakistan, on the other hand, has not responded to the accusations made by the CSIS.
The ongoing inquiry also highlights China’s alleged interference in Canadian elections, with the CSIS concluding that Beijing clandestinely intervened in both the 2019 and 2021 votes. The lack of legal and political consequences for foreign interference activities makes it a low-risk, high-reward strategy for outside state actors, as noted by the CSIS assessment.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who faces criticism for not adequately addressing foreign interference, is set to testify in the inquiry. The reports underscore the need for better coordination among key agencies in Canada and a deeper understanding of the vulnerability of the country’s immigrant populations and their ties to their countries of origin. With immigration projected to significantly impact Canada’s population makeup in the coming years, addressing foreign interference becomes even more crucial for the country’s democratic processes.