Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions, and Intergovernmental Affairs, announced that moving forward, the measures brought in to protect recent by-elections from any potential foreign interference will be applied to all future by-elections, ensuring Canadians can continue to have confidence in the strength and the resilience of our democracy.
This means that the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force will not only provide enhanced monitoring and assessment of foreign interference threats during general elections, but also during all by-election periods. While the general procedures and enhanced monitoring process will remain the same for each by-election, the SITE Task Force continuously adapts its work in response to its findings as well as new and evolving threats and technology.
These measures will apply to the upcoming by-elections for the LaSalle-Émard-Verdun, as well as Elmwood-Transcona electoral districts, which will both be held on September 16, 2024.
The assessments produced by the SITE Task Force will be provided to the Deputy Minister Committee on Intelligence Response, which will stand ready to brief and advise ministers with mandates to combat foreign interference and protect Canada's democratic institutions.
Lines of communications continue to be opened with designated representatives of political parties to ensure engagement, should it become necessary over the course of the by-election period.
SITE will also produce both a classified and an unclassified report consisting of the Task Force's assessment of any attempts at foreign interference identified during the by-elections. The classified report will be made available to the Prime Minister, relevant ministers, as well as to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, and identified representatives of the parties with appropriate security clearances.
These measures are in line with the Government of Canada's commitment to keeping Canadians informed about foreign interference in Canada. Building upon the Plan to Protect Canada's Democracy, the Government of Canada continues to defend Canada's democracy against interference and uphold Canadians' confidence in our institutions.
