Canadian officials say there was no Indian interference in 2021 elections

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Canada announced a public inquiry into Foreign Electoral Interference in September of 2023. The Commission will conduct its investigation in two phases. Initially, it will concentrate on examining potential interference by China, Russia, and other foreign entities in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, along with assessing any resultant impact.

Canadian officials, several of whom held governmental positions, have affirmed that there is no substantiated evidence of interference by the Indian government, encompassing disinformation or funding campaigns, during the 2021 Canada elections. These statements were delivered as part of their testimony before the Foreign Interference Commission.

Marta Morgan, Canada’s former Deputy Foreign Minister, categorically stated, “There was no information suggesting that there was disinformation or originating from that source (India) in the Canadian information ecosphere during that period,” dismissing suggestions of Indian interference raised during the testimony.

Former Cabinet Secretary Janice Charette echoed Morgan’s sentiments, affirming, “I do not believe during the 2021 election that we saw evidence of the Government of India using those tools (misinformation) in the campaign.” Charette’s remarks underscored the absence of any discernible Indian interference during the electoral process.

When pressed further by Prabhjot Singh, Counsel of the ‘Sikh Coalition’, on whether the panel specifically investigated disinformation threats from India, former minister Robert Stewart succinctly responded, “No on disinformation,” further solidifying the stance that no such interference was detected.

Meanwhile, Vincent Rigby, former Canadian National Security Adviser (NSA), emphasised the criticality of managing the relationship with India meticulously in response to the publication of the Indo-Pacific strategy. He said, “I’ve said in response to the publication of the Indo-Pacific Strategy the strategy will be challenged if we don’t manage the relationship with India carefully because the West is using India to a certain extent as a bulwark against China.”

Additionally, Rigby underscored the importance of viewing India as a potential partner.

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He explained, “I’ve said publicly that India needs to be seen as a potential partner, but Canada also has to balance India as a potential partner with certain activities it’s been accused of perpetrating and how you manage that very, very delicate relationship.”

In the second phase, the commission will examine the capacity of federal departments, agencies, institutional structures, etc. The commission will hold public hearings in early 2024 and in the fall of 2024.