India ‘second-biggest foreign threat to Canada’s democracy’: Canadian report
A recent special study from a high-level Canadian parliamentary committee identified India as the “second-biggest foreign threat” to Canada’s democracy. The research identified China as the most serious threat. In the foreign threat perception index, India has risen from third place in 2019, surpassing Russia.
“India emerged as the second-most significant foreign interference threat to Canada’s democratic institutions and processes,” said the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians report.
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China number 1 and Russia third-biggest threat : Parliamentary report
“While India’s foreign interference efforts have gradually increased, it became clear during the period of this review that its efforts had extended beyond countering what it perceived as pro-Khalistani efforts in Canada to include interfering in Canadian democratic processes and institutions, including by targeting Canadian politicians, ethnic media, and Indo-Canadian ethnocultural communities,” the report stated.
The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians comprises of members from the House of Commons and the Senate.
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Contrary to the 2019 report, which identified Russia as the second most significant foreign interference threat, the recent committee report found Russia’s involvement in foreign interference activities aimed specifically at Canadian democratic institutions and processes to be lower than previously reviewed.
The committee’s report also highlighted Pakistan and Iran’s role in foreign interference activities.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters that the Canadian government takes the issue of foreign political involvement “very seriously” and that the country must not be “naive” about authoritarian governments aiming to destroy democracy, according to CBC News.
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Report comes amid strained relations between India and Canada
The assessment by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) comes at a time when India-Canada relations are strained.
Tensions rose after Trudeau accused the Indian government of participation in the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India dismissed his claim, calling it “absurd and motivated”.
The study claims that India’s interference operations in Canada have “extended beyond countering” pro-Khalistan elements.
Indian officials have yet to comment to these allegations, but they have previously denied similar claims, accusing Canadian officials of meddling in Indian affairs.
The NSICOP research also claims that foreign powers may have influenced some Canadian Members of Parliament, resulting in inappropriate contact and financial support.
