The Foreign Interference Commission will examine and assess the interference by China, Russia and other foreign states or non-state actors, including any potential impacts, in order to confirm the integrity of, and any impacts on, the 43rd and 44th general elections (2019 and 2021 elections) at the national and electoral district levels.
The Commission will examine and assess the flow of information to senior decision-makers, including elected officials, and between the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force and the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol panel during the election periods that led up to the 43rd and 44th general elections, and in the weeks following those periods, and actions taken in response.
The Commission will also examine and assess the capacity of relevant federal departments, agencies, institutional structures and governance processes to permit the Government of Canada to detect, deter and counter any form of foreign interference directly or indirectly targeting Canada’s democratic processes.
The Commission will hold public hearings.
Read the complete Terms of Reference of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions.
Orders in Council
The Government of Canada issued four Orders in Council related to the Commission, all dated September 7, 2023:
- Order in Council 2023-0882 sets out the terms of reference and appoints the Commissioner under the Inquiries Act;
- Order in Council 2023-0883 designates the Commission as a department for the purposes of the Financial Administration Act;
- Order in Council 2023-0884 amends the Schedule to the Security of Information Act; and
- Order in Council 2023-0885 amends the Schedule to the Canada Evidence Act.