China, Russia interfering with Canadian affairs, new report finds

OTTAWA—China and Russia are meddling in Canadian affairs, a national security-and-intelligence watchdog says in a new report that cites evidence of “significant and sustained” foreign interference directed at Canada.

In its annual report, made public Thursday, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians singled out the two countries for trying to exploit the openness of Canadian society and penetrating key institutions for their own ends.

It said these states and other unnamed ones target ethnocultural communities, try to corrupt the political process, manipulate the media and influence debate on university campuses.

“Each of these activities poses a significant risk to the rights and freedoms of Canadians and to the country’s sovereignty: they are a clear threat to the security of Canada,” the report said.

The committee, established in 2017, has the authority to review sensitive activities across the federal government.

Overall, the committee found efforts by foreign adversaries to interfere in Canada’s affairs pose a significant and growing risk.

“Canada is not alone in facing this threat. Its closest security and intelligence allies, including those within the Five Eyes and NATO, are targeted by many of the same foreign states using many of the same techniques.”

The “Five Eyes” are comprised of Canada, the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.