Inquiry Reveals Foreign Interference in Canadian Parliament

Security officials testify about increased screening and rejected applicants due to foreign influence concerns.

House of Commons sergeant-at-arms Patrick McDonell testified about rejecting several job applicants over national security concerns related to foreign interference.
The inquiry is examining the capacity of federal agencies to detect, deter, and counter foreign meddling in Canadian democratic institutions.
Chief electoral officer Stéphane Perrault proposed measures to tighten the security of candidate nominations, including barring non-citizens from participating.
There has been a significant increase in 'resolution of doubt' interviews for prospective parliamentary staffers, from 10 in 2019 to approximately 128 in 2023.
The inquiry, led by Quebec appeal court judge Marie-Josée Hogue, found that while foreign influence campaigns occurred in the 2019 and 2021 elections, they did not compromise the integrity of the results.