The Foreign Interference Commission issued dozens of recommendations to better protect Canada against meddling, including some requiring the passing of new laws.
The commission’s seven-volume report, published on Jan. 28, includes 51 recommendations, some of which Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue said can and should be implemented before the next election to bolster transparency and fairness in political processes.
Parliament is currently prorogued until March 24, as the governing Liberal Party picks a new leader, and a spring election could take place if the new prime minister calls one or opposition parties bring down the government.
One key Hogue recommendation calls for stricter eligibility requirements in political party nomination and leadership contests, urging changes such that parties adopt the chief electoral officer’s suggestion that only Canadian citizens and permanent residents be allowed to vote. To enforce this, parties would need to obtain declarations from members verifying their status and maintain detailed records for at least seven years, ensuring that only eligible individuals participate….