OTTAWA: Canada has issued a warning indicating that both China and India may attempt to meddle in the country’s upcoming general election, with concerns also raised about possible threats from Russia and Pakistan, as reported by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
This warning comes amid strained relations between Canada, India, and China, with both Beijing and New Delhi previously denying allegations of interference. In previous elections held in 2019 and 2021, Canada was criticized for its slow response to foreign meddling, although a formal investigation concluded in January that such activities did not influence the election results.
At a recent press briefing, Vanessa Lloyd, CSIS’s deputy director of operations, revealed that hostile nations are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence tools to interfere in democratic processes. “It is highly probable that the People’s Republic of China will deploy AI-powered resources to try to disrupt Canada’s electoral integrity in the forthcoming election,” she stated.
In a related development, Beijing recently imposed tariffs on over $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural goods in retaliation for tariffs that Canada had previously placed on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum products last year. In a grave escalation, Canada also announced last week that China executed four Canadian citizens on drug trafficking charges, denouncing the use of capital punishment by Beijing.
The situation with India is equally tense; last year, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats—including the head of the diplomatic mission—due to allegations of their involvement in a conspiracy targeting Sikh separatists within Canada.
Lloyd emphasized that the Indian government has shown both the intent and capability to interfere in Canadian communities and elections. Both Indian and Chinese diplomatic representatives in Ottawa were not available for immediate comment.
Lloyd further noted that Russia and Pakistan could also engage in foreign interference activities aimed at Canada. “It is often challenging to draw a direct connection between foreign interference and the actual results of elections. However, such activities can significantly undermine public trust in Canada’s democratic institutions and processes,” she explained.
