Canada’s Foreign Interference Law Exists — But Democracy Is Still Unprotected

 Canada’s Foreign Interference Law Exists — But Democracy Is Still Unprotected

Canada is not facing a hypothetical threat. Foreign interference is real, ongoing, and already documented. The Hogue Commission clearly identified China and India as the most aggressive and sophisticated actors targeting Canadian democracy.

Yet despite this, Canada’s response has been slow, incomplete, and dangerously weak.

In 2024, Parliament passed the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act with rare all-party cooperation. It was supposed to be a turning point — a commitment to transparency, accountability, and protection of our democratic institutions.

But today, that law still has no teeth.

There is no Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner.
There is no functioning oversight body.
There is no enforcement system.

Canadians are being asked to trust a system that does not yet exist.

A Law Without Leadership Is Just Paper

By law, political party leaders must be consulted before appointing the Commissioner. That has not happened. Without this appointment, the government knows there is no one to administer or enforce the Act. The delay is not accidental — it is a political choice.

And every day this continues, Canadian democracy remains exposed.

Regulations That Undermine the Law

Even more troubling: the government’s proposed regulations do not fully reflect what Parliament intended.

The Act was meant to cover federal, provincial, and municipal officials. The regulations quietly ignore this — promising that other levels of government will be included “eventually,” with no timeline.

That is not accountability. That is avoidance.

The regulations also fail to clearly define what an “arrangement” is. This creates two dangerous outcomes:

• Legitimate civic engagement becomes risky and uncertain.
• Sophisticated foreign actors gain room to operate through loopholes.

Vagueness does not protect democracy — it weakens it.

Ignoring How Modern Interference Actually Works

Foreign interference rarely operates openly. It works through intermediaries, proxies, corporations, institutions, and informal networks.

Yet the regulations:

• Do not require disclosure of corporate or organizational affiliations.
• Do not require registration for individuals tied to foreign-funded institutions or media outlets.
• Do not seriously address proxy influence.

This is not situational awareness. It is willful blindness.

Weak Penalties, Weak Message

With fines as low as $50, the government sends a clear message: foreign interference is not being treated as a serious national security issue.

That message is dangerous.

Democracy Deserves Better

Canada is expanding international trade relationships while leaving its democratic defenses unfinished. This contradiction should alarm every citizen.

Foreign interference is not just about elections.
It is about trust.
It is about transparency.
It is about whether Canadians can believe their institutions truly serve the public.

Right now, the answer is uncertain.

What Must Happen Now

If Canada is serious about protecting democracy, it must:

• Appoint the Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner immediately
• Strengthen and clarify the regulations
• Address proxy interference directly
• Fully align regulations with the Act
• Treat foreign interference as an urgent national priority

Democracy cannot be protected with half-measures, vague language, or political delay.

Foreign interference is real.
Canadians deserve action — not excuses.