Senate passes anti-interference law

Photo: Sean Kilpatrick The Canadian Press The bill, which must now obtain royal assent, provides for new criminal provisions against “surreptitious or deceptive conduct”, the sharing of sensitive information with companies and the creation of a transparency register on foreign influence.

The Canadian Press in Ottawa

Published at 11:54 a.m.

• Canada

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The Senate passed legislation Wednesday night to curb foreign interference in Canada.

Senators approved Bill C-70 after rejecting an amendment that sought to ensure innocent people were not caught in its clutches.

The bill, which now faces royal assent, includes new criminal provisions against “surreptitious or deceptive conduct”, sharing sensitive intelligence with companies and creating a foreign influence transparency register.

The bill recognizes that states and other foreign entities that interfere in the promotion of political objectives could employ individuals to act on their behalf, without disclosing the existence of these links. To guard against such activities, the transparency registry would require certain individuals to register with the federal government.

Civil society organizations had called for more time to examine the bill, tabled in the House of Commons less than seven weeks ago. These organizations argued that such haste could result in flawed provisions in the law that would violate certain individual rights.

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