Foreign Interference Commission granted unprecedented access to Cabinet documents

October 7, 2024 (Ottawa) – The Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions is reporting on the status of its discussions with the Government of Canada regarding the Commission’s access to information subject to Cabinet confidence.

In setting its Terms of Reference, the Government agreed to provide the Commission with access to four Memoranda to Cabinet (MCs) that had previously been provided to the Independent Special Rapporteur on Foreign Interference.

Following extensive discussions with Commission counsel, the Government has consented to the public disclosure of summaries of these MC’s, which will be entered into evidence during the current round of public hearings. 

The Government has also twice expanded the Commission’s access to information subject to Cabinet confidence, first in respect of certain operational documents that were prepared and used by national security officials to brief Cabinet or its committees, and second to provide access to further MCs identified by the Commissioner as being critical to the Commission’s work.  The related Orders-in-Council can be found on the Commission’s web site.

“The extraordinary degree of access by the Commission to both classified information and information subject to Cabinet confidence is unprecedented and reflects the importance of the Inquiry’s work,” said Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue. “The Government’s willingness to disclose this information to the Commission will assist me in developing recommendations that will help to preserve the integrity of Canada’s electoral processes and democratic institutions and enhance Canadians’ trust and confidence in their democracy.”  

The Government of Canada created the Foreign Interference Commission in September 2023 to respond to concerns about foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.  The Commission released an Initial Report on May 3, 2024.  In the second stage of its work, the Commission is currently assessing the federal government’s capacity to detect, deter, and counter foreign interference.  The Commission intends to deliver its final report, which will include findings and recommendations, by December 31, 2024.

Contact:

Michael Tansey
Sr. Communications Advisor
Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions

(343) 630-2154
michael.tansey@pifi-epie.gc.ca
www.ForeignInterferenceCommission.ca 

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