Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Democratic Institutions and Public Safety, disclosed plans to introduce legislation this week to address foreign interference, although specifics, including the inclusion of a foreign agent registry, remain undisclosed.
LeBlanc, also responsible for intergovernmental affairs, announced that the bill targeting foreign interference has been put on notice, signaling its imminent presentation in the House of Commons.
While calls for a foreign agent registry akin to those in Australia and the United States have persisted, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has described the matter as “complex.”
When pressed by Vassy Kapelos on CTV’s Question Period about the proposed tools to counter foreign interference, LeBlanc refrained from divulging details, citing parliamentary protocols governing pre-legislative discussions.
Acknowledging previous calls from the House ethics committee for swift action, including the establishment of a foreign agent registry, LeBlanc maintained discretion until the legislation’s formal introduction.
LeBlanc’s recent remarks follow commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue’s release of an interim report on foreign interference, which suggests foreign meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, albeit with minimal impact on overall results.