The Canadian government is unveiling changes aimed at enhancing the detection and safeguarding of elections against potential threats like foreign and domestic interference, disinformation, and bribery. According to Government House leader Steven MacKinnon, these reforms are crucial to safeguard Canadian democracy amidst evolving challenges.
The primary legislative focus is on Bill C-25, known as the Strong and Free Elections Act, which seeks to amend regulations concerning privacy, political funding, leadership contests, and their enforcement under the Canada Elections Act.
Under Bill C-25, measures to combat election interference, such as offering or accepting bribes, engaging in foreign interference, and disseminating partisan election content from abroad, will now be enforceable both during and outside election periods. Additionally, restrictions on organizing long ballots, a practice where numerous candidates are registered in a riding as a form of protest, are being tightened to enhance election integrity.
Deepfakes, realistic fake images and videos generated using artificial intelligence, will be prohibited if used to impersonate election officials or candidates with the intent to mislead voters. The bill also outlaws tampering with computer systems to disrupt elections and expands the scope of electoral crimes to cover activities inside and outside the country.
Moreover, the legislation mandates federal political parties to secure the private information of their members and ensure safeguards for external vendors with access to such data. It also prohibits the unauthorized sale or disclosure of member information and imposes restrictions on the collection of personal data.
Furthermore, the bill enhances election financing regulations to cover party nomination and leadership votes, and strengthens enforcement mechanisms by significantly increasing fines for violations of the Canada Elections Act. The Commissioner of Canada Elections will be empowered with new investigative tools to probe breaches of electoral laws, including the ability to compel testimony and documents without court approval.
To fortify Canada’s democratic institutions, the government will invest $31.5 million over five years to bolster Global Affairs Canada’s capacity to detect and counter foreign interference threats. This initiative aims to enhance collaboration with other government bodies and foreign nations to combat disinformation and transnational repression.
Additionally, the government will formalize the appointment process for the Co-ordinated Response to Threats to Elections panel, which will oversee the country’s response to foreign interference threats and improve public communication on such issues. The panel will issue a post-election report detailing observed threats and the government’s response strategy.