The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) issued a report accusing India and Pakistan of interfering in Canada’s federal elections in 2019 and 2021. India has called the claims “baseless,” but the CSIS said it will be on the hunt for meddling during the upcoming election.
“It is not Government of India’s policy to interfere in democratic processes of other countries. In fact, quite on the reverse, it is Canada which has been interfering in our internal affairs. We have been raising this issue regularly with them. We continue to call on Canada to take effective measures to address our core concerns,” stated India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
Canada’s next election is not until October 2025, but polls show that Canadians are eager for a change in leadership. A poll from January conducted by Nanos Research found that 46% of Canadians would like to cast their vote in 2024. The Canada Elections Act of 2007 changed the timeline for general elections, which are to be held the third Monday of October every four years. Yet, an election could be held earlier, according to Election Canada, “as long as it is no later than five years after the previous election.”
People are simply losing confidence in their government leaders. Canadians are not happy with their current conditions and want Trudeau out. As is common, his administration now must blame foreign interference for his loss in popularity.
The CSIS was granted extended powers by the Liberal government in 2015 under Bill C-51, the Anti-Terrorism Act. The CSIS is now able to actively interfere with potential terrorist activities, such as censoring websites, blocking the freedom of movement, or de-banking individuals as they did to the truckers during the Trucker Convoy.
“We have known for many, many years that many different countries take an interest in engaging in Canadian institutions and sometimes influencing, sometimes interfering, in the work of Canadian institutions,” Trudeau said. “I can assure people that we will continue to do everything necessary to prevent interference from whatever country it comes from.”
Threat-reduction matters could include parking a cop car outside of a potential terrorists home; government intimidation. They believe Sikh Canadians are being forced to vote in alignment with Indian policies, therefore, the CSIS will be watching them closely as the next election approaches.
There is no concrete evidence that an outside source interfered in Canada’s elections but that is not preventing the government from attacking foreign nations and alerting the public that they will be taking preventative measures to ensure the public votes accordingly.
