National security leaks are a rare occurrence in Canada, especially during election campaigns. However, recent allegations by the Globe and Mail suggested that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) assessed that the Indian government had interfered in the 2022 Conservative leadership race. The report claimed that Indian agents meddled in the race that saw Pierre Poilievre elected as leader, although the efforts were not highly organized. The report did not suggest that Poilievre or his team were aware of the alleged activity, and it is unlikely to impact relations between Ottawa and New Delhi if the Liberals return to power.
Pierre Poilievre responded to these allegations by quoting from the recent Hogue commission report on foreign interference in Canadian democratic institutions. The report stated that while India was the second most active country in foreign interference operations in Canada, the impacted candidates were likely unaware of any alleged support. Poilievre won the Conservative leadership decisively, and any outside interference would probably not have affected the final vote. However, foreign interference operations may aim to gain influence over elected officials after the election rather than sway the outcome.
Foreign governments covertly meddling in Canadian elections has a long history, with China, India, Russia, and Pakistan among the countries implicated in such activities. Justice Marie-Josée Hogue conducted a public inquiry into foreign interference following news reports about Chinese government interventions in Canada’s political processes in 2023. While foreign interference was present in the 2019 and 2021 general elections, it did not ultimately influence the formation of the government. CSIS has identified potential threats from foreign interference in the current general election, but threat actors have likely adapted their strategies to conceal their activities.
The Globe and Mail report indicated that CSIS did not share information about alleged Indian government intervention in the leadership race with Poilievre because he had refused to undergo security screening to access top-secret intelligence. Poilievre defended this decision, suggesting that being briefed on sensitive intelligence would undermine his ability to question foreign interference and hold the Liberal government accountable. However, former director of CSIS Ward Elcock found this explanation to be “silly,” and he questioned the source of the leaked information, noting that Canada’s intelligence community typically avoids influencing the country’s political process.
Overall, the allegations of foreign interference in the 2022 Conservative leadership race by the Indian government have raised concerns about the potential impact of such activities on Canada’s democratic institutions. While the leaked information has not soured relations between Ottawa and New Delhi, it has highlighted the need for increased vigilance against foreign interference in Canadian elections. As the election campaign continues, CSIS and other security agencies will remain focused on detecting and mitigating potential threats to the integrity of the electoral process.
