Submissions to the Commission
The Commission welcomes organizations, associations, and groups to make written submissions on their experiences, observations, and ideas on the matter of foreign interference in Canada’s federal electoral processes and democratic institutions. You will find submission guidelines below. More information on when to make submissions is set out under the heading “Important Dates” below.
An important part of the Commission’s mandate is to examine and report on the experiences of members of ethnic and cultural communities who may be especially vulnerable to foreign interference. Organizations, associations, and groups representing, in an official or unofficial capacity, diaspora communities are encouraged to engage with the Commission by providing written submissions.
Submissions may be referred to or quoted by the Commission, either in a written report or during the Commission’s public hearings. The Commission will not release any identifying information about the author of submissions without the author’s prior written permission.
All submissions received by July 31, 2024, will be read and considered by the Commission.
Confidential submissions to the Commission
The Commission will not refer to or quote from any submission that is clearly marked as “confidential.”
Guidelines for preparing your submission to the Commission
When preparing submissions, please be specific where possible, and focus on the most important things you want the Commission to know, understand, and consider.
You can make submissions in any language. For submissions made in languages other than French or English, please identify the language used at the beginning of the submission.
The following questions may be helpful in preparing written submissions:
What is the purpose of your organization, association, or group? Useful information includes the name of your organization, association, or group, a summary of its purpose, and a description of your members or community.
What involvement has your organization, association, or group had in Canadian federal elections or democratic processes? Useful information includes any political affiliations, and any activities undertaken in relation to Canada’s federal elections or democratic processes (i.e. endorsing a political candidate, organizing events with political candidates, etc.).
How has foreign interference in Canadian federal elections or democratic processes affected your organization, association, or group, and your members? Useful information includes any impact on the work or function of your organization, association, or group, its leaders, directors, officers, members, or associated individuals, along with any related interactions with authorities and resources such as law enforcement or government departments, services, or agencies related to foreign interference.
How has your organization, association, or group responded to foreign interference? Useful information includes any steps you have taken to assist members or associated individuals in responding to foreign interference, and any dealings with law enforcement or governmental departments, services, agencies, or independent federal organizations in responding to foreign interference. If assistance was sought or received from law enforcement or governmental departments, services, agencies, or independent federal organizations, the Commission is interested in learning how effective that assistance was, and hearing about what else would have helped. If your organization, association, or group has responded in another way, or has itself offered services to support your members in dealing with foreign interference, the Commission is interested in hearing about such responses, how effective they were, and what else may have helped.
What else would you like the Commission to know or consider? Useful information includes any suggestions or recommendations relating to detecting, deterring or combatting foreign interference and for protecting or supporting people who may be vulnerable to foreign interference.
Sending your submission to the Commission
You can provide your submissions to the Commission via email, mail, or via the Signal encrypted messaging app, as described below. If you have any questions about making a submission, or if you are unable to make a submission in writing without accommodation, please contact the Commission at consultation@pifi-epie.gc.ca and provide a telephone number the Commission team can use to contact you to discuss.
You can email your submissions to the Commission at the following email address:
Signal
If you feel more comfortable providing information to the Commission using encrypted means, you may do so through the Signal – Private Messenger app. The Commission’s Signal username is: signal_pifi_epie20.24
You can send your submissions to us by surface mail at the following address:
Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference
90 Sparks St
Basement - 04
Ottawa, ON K1A 0H9