OTTAWA, ON , May 22, 2024
/CNW/ - The Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal
Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions has launched its
public consultation process with the release of a list of questions
to guide submissions.
"The Commission welcomes contributions from all members of the
public on their experiences, observations, and ideas on the matter
of foreign interference in Canada's federal electoral processes and
democratic institutions," said Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue.
The Commission has added a Public Consultation section to
its website with details of the public consultation process.
The new section contains guidelines for making submissions
and a list of questions that members of the public are encouraged
to consider when preparing their submissions.
Submissions can be sent to the Commission through a dedicated
e-mail address, through an encrypted messaging app (Signal), or by
surface mail.
The Commission will expand its public consultation process in
the coming week by adding the capacity to receive submissions in
other languages in addition to English and French.
"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," said Commissioner Hogue. "Members of diaspora
communities are encouraged to engage with the Commission by
providing written submissions in English or French, or in a select
number of third languages."
Additional details on other elements of the Commission's public
input process will be released soon.
Submissions may be referred to or quoted by the Commission,
either in a written report or during the Commission's public
hearings. Submissions to the Commission can be made in
confidence. The Commission will not release any identifying
information about those who make submissions without their express
written consent.
The Commission will read and consider all submissions received
by the deadline of July 31, 2024.
The Government of Canada
created the Foreign Interference Commission to respond to concerns
about foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
The Commission released an initial report on May 3, 2024.
The second stage of the Commission's work will include an
examination and assessment of 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's Final Report, which must be submitted to the
government by December 31, 2024, will
include recommendations about how to protect Canada's elections and democratic institutions
from foreign interference.
www.ForeignInterferenceCommission.ca
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): @PIFIEPIE
SOURCE Foreign Interference Commission