Diaspora members call for more awareness, protections to fight foreign repression
Members of targeted diasporas in Canada are calling for greater awareness of the foreign threats they face as well as more robust protections that could save lives.
Representatives of various communities told a federal inquiry Wednesday of the numerous challenges of fighting foreign meddling and repression.
The commission of inquiry's latest hearings are focusing on detecting, deterring and countering interference from abroad.
Katherine Leung, a policy adviser with Hong Kong Watch, said police duly take notes and extend thanks when someone reports being surveilled, threatened or harmed by a person acting on behalf of a foreign regime.
"But for some members of the Hong Kong community that I've spoken to, this is where the story ends. There's no follow-up, no indication of progress and no sense of safety or closure," Leung said.
"For these individuals, the silence that follows can be as unnerving as the initial threat. The lack of follow-up leaves them feeling vulnerable, uncertain if their case is being pursued and no safer than before they reached out for help."
Regular communication would reassure victims that their cases are being taken seriously and help build confidence in law enforcement and encourage future reporting, she said.
Moninder Singh, an advocate for the Sikh community, said there's been a failure by agencies to share information quickly and concisely when lives are at risk.
Singh said policies at the local, national and international levels should be aligned, with a clear protocol in responding to threats from foreign powers.
He also called for stronger cybersecurity measures to protect people.
"When we are given these warnings to our lives, we are often told that we can be tracked via our phone, GPS and other things," Singh told the inquiry. "Yet, we have no education, no ability to actually protect ourselves. So education around cybersecurity for individuals that are facing these types of threats is paramount."
There is a critical need to enhance the awareness of key institutions like the judiciary, RCMP and Canadian Security Intelligence Service about the activities of foreign agents linked to oppressive regimes, said Farzaneh Fard of the Iranian Justice Collective.
"Comprehensive education and specialized training are essential to equip these institutions to effectively identify and address threats," she said.
Judges, prosecutors and immigration officials must be educated about tactics such as the use of false identities and forged documents, Fard said.
Dedicated teams should be set up within the RCMP and CSIS to focus on foreign meddling and threats, she added.
In addition, she advocated a national campaign to educate the public about risks including exploitation of Canada's legal and immigration systems by hostile entities.
"At the moment, members of our community who are targets of foreign interference or are aware of the presence of Iranian regime officials in Canada struggle to convey this information to the appropriate authorities," Fard said.
She said establishing a well-publicized method of contacting the authorities with relevant information can protect members and quickly alert security agencies.
Teresa Woo-Paw, who sat in the Alberta legislature from 2008 to 2015, told the inquiry that every Canadian should be concerned about foreign meddling in electoral processes and democratic institutions.
But she also said members of the Chinese community are putting aside thoughts of running in elections because they don't want their loyalty publicly questioned.
Woo-Paw, chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation since 2018, said "quite a number of people" have told her of their aspirations to serve in public office.
"Almost all of them are saying, 'But this is not the time.'"
She said these fears will have a generational impact with fewer Chinese Canadians elected to public office.
She said some also worry they will be accused of trying to interfere in an election if they donate to a nominee's campaign, or that they might cause trouble for the candidate.
Woo-Paw was among members of the Chinese community who told the inquiry of unintended chilling effects from the current public controversy over foreign interference.
Anonymous leaks to the media of intelligence documents about alleged Chinese interference in Canadian electoral processes sparked calls for the federal inquiry that is now underway.
Montreal student Wawa Li told the inquiry there's a fixation on foreign meddling fuelled by authorities and opportunistic politicians, leading to a sense of hysteria.
"I am against foreign interference, and I hope the government takes action if it exists, but not at the expense of the community," she said.
The commission of inquiry also provided insights Wednesday into its broader consultation process.
In addition to the voices heard at public hearings, the inquiry has gathered over 145 written submissions from the public. It has also received more than 460 responses to date to a questionnaire.
The inquiry has also held 22 meetings with 105 members of the following diasporas: Chinese, Eritrean, Falun Gong practitioners, Hong Kong, Iranian, Russian, Sikh, Tamil, Tibetan, Tigrayan, Ukrainian and Uyghur. Summaries of these meetings will be published at a later time, with some information redacted to respect privacy.
Among the suggestions to date:
- increase government transparency about foreign interference risks and responses
- build collaborative relationships between diaspora communities and government, including law enforcement agencies
- improve cultural knowledge and proficiency for government representatives interacting with victims of foreign interference and transnational repression
- public education, awareness and supports related to foreign threats
- media literacy resources and anti-racism education for the public
- better efforts to publicly fact-check information related to common disinformation topics
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2024.
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Auto theft probe leads to arrest of 59 suspects, recovery of more than 300 stolen vehicles: Toronto police
Toronto police say 59 suspects are facing a total of 300 charges in connection with an auto theft and re-vinning probe.
Ont. woman posed as registered nurse in Simcoe County for 4 years: OPP
An Ontario woman is facing serious charges after police allege she pretended to be a registered nurse at several Simcoe County facilities, despite being unqualified.
B.C. mayor's 'luxury' trip to Dubai climate conference was against ethics rules: commissioner
New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone's all-expenses-paid trip to Dubai for a climate conference last December violated the city's Code of Conduct for Council Members and the Community Charter, the city's ethics commissioner has ruled.
Democrats Abroad Canada warns U.S. voters to take action ahead of possible Canada Post strike
Democrats Abroad Canada is warning Americans that a potential postal workers strike this weekend could affect the ability to vote in next week's election.
WATCH 'It's mind-boggling': Drought reveals U.S. town submerged in the 1940s
Hundreds of people are flocking to see a rare site in Pennsylvania: remnants of a historic town that is usually underwater.
Caught on camera: Edmonton police run over woman during welfare call
An Edmonton Police Service officer was caught on camera running over a woman with a marked cruiser last month.
Orphaned squirrel who became social media star was euthanized after being seized from New York home
An orphaned squirrel that became a social media star called Peanut was euthanized after state authorities seized the beloved pet during a raid on his caretaker's home, authorities said Friday.
B.C. landlord who evicted longtime tenant, hiked rent and re-listed unit ordered to pay $16K
A landlord from B.C.’s Lower Mainland who evicted a longtime tenant only to rent out the same unit months later for more money has been ordered to compensate him $16,480.
Secret Service report offers new details on failures during Trump assassination attempt
A new Secret Service report into the July assassination attempt against former U.S. president Donald Trump said multiple staffers knew about clear line-of-sight risks but found them 'acceptable' and that farm equipment intended to obstruct the view from the nearby building where the gunman opened fire was never used.
Local Spotlight
Windsor teen's shredded pepperoni pizza post goes viral
A Windsor teen’s social media post showing off a distinctive Windsor pizza topping has gone viral, drawing millions of views worldwide and sparking new curiosity about Windsor-style pizza.
'You look like me': 7-year-old who went viral for his Auston Matthews Halloween costume meets Leafs star
Auston Matthews has come face to face with his look-alike. On Thursday, the Maple Leafs star met seven-year-old Grayson Joseph, who went viral for dressing up as an Auston Matthews hockey card.
'You never know what you're going to find': Halifax junk remover shares some of his company's strangest discoveries
A Halifax junk remover shares some of his company’s strangest discoveries.
'Smiles per gallon': B.C. man creates Canadian-themed art car with stuffed moose on roof
When Leah arrived at work directing traffic around a construction site, she never expected to see a van painted in all sorts of bright colours, and covered in eclectic decorations, including a stuffed moose attached to its roof.
Guelph, Ont. charitable bike repairs halted due to bylaw complaint
After 14 years of repairing and selling bicycles out of the garage of her home, a Guelph, Ont. woman’s efforts have ended – for now, at least.
More than 20,000 goldfish removed from Edmonton stormwater pond
Epcor says it has removed more than 20,000 goldfish from an Edmonton stormwater pond.
Witches and warlocks take to the water across New Brunswick
Witches and warlocks have been flocking to New Brunswick waterways this month, as a new Halloween tradition ripples across the province.
Cosplay Queen: New Brunswick artist's handmade costumes attract thousands of followers online, celebrity commissions
New Brunswicker Jillea Godin’s elaborate cosplay pieces attract thousands to her online accounts, as well as requests from celebrities for their own pieces.
Meet the rescued duck at a Manitoba farm who has waddled her way into the internet's heart
A new resident at a Manitoba animal rescue has waddled her way into people's hearts.