Commentary
It seems that the public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections has captivated the nation. Last week, even the prime minister testified, shedding light on what he knew (or didn’t know) about attempts to undermine our democratic process by foreign entities, particularly the Peoples’ Republic of China.
The inquiry revealed troubling aspects of how our government handled these threats, highlighting a lack of understanding and urgency in addressing the issue. Despite acknowledging efforts to influence voters, officials downplayed the impact on the election results, leaving many Canadians feeling uneasy about the state of our electoral system.
As someone with extensive experience in Canadian intelligence agencies, I found the revelations regarding our intelligence culture particularly concerning. The inquiry exposed a lack of appreciation for intelligence gathering and a failure to differentiate between intelligence and evidence. This raises questions about the government’s ability to effectively respond to security threats, especially during elections.
One of the most alarming moments was when the prime minister dismissed intelligence from agencies like CSIS as insufficient to warrant action. This attitude towards crucial information on foreign interference is troubling, especially considering the detailed briefings provided to the PM on multiple occasions.
As the inquiry takes a break, the future remains uncertain. However, I predict that the recommendations will face familiar delays, while foreign actors may exploit our vulnerabilities in future elections. The morale within our intelligence agencies is also at risk, as professionals feel their efforts are undervalued.
To address these challenges, the government must prioritize intelligence briefings from experts and demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding our democracy. Failure to do so could have serious consequences for our national security.
While I remain skeptical of meaningful change under the current leadership, I believe that a shift in government may be necessary to address these critical issues.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
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