The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has issued a stark warning ahead of the April 28 federal election, identifying China and India as likely actors to attempt interference in Canada’s democratic process. The agency also flagged Russia and Pakistan as potential threats.
The announcement, made during a press briefing on March 24, comes amid already strained diplomatic relations between Canada and both China and India. Officials stressed that while interference attempts did not alter the outcomes of the 2019 and 2021 elections, foreign meddling—particularly when leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI)—poses a growing risk to national integrity.
“The People’s Republic of China is highly likely to use AI-enabled tools to attempt to interfere with Canada’s democratic process in this current election,” stated Vanessa Lloyd, Deputy Director of Operations at CSIS. She emphasized that hostile state actors are adopting increasingly sophisticated methods to manipulate public opinion, sow division, and undermine public confidence.
CSIS also reiterated that India has both the intent and capability to interfere in Canadian communities and democratic institutions. This follows last year’s diplomatic fallout when Canada expelled six Indian diplomats over allegations linked to a plot involving Sikh separatists.
Meanwhile, China’s imposition of tariffs on $2.6 billion in Canadian agricultural products earlier this month, in response to Canadian trade measures, has added further tension. The execution of four Canadian citizens in China on drug smuggling charges has also drawn condemnation from Ottawa.
In response to CSIS’s remarks, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry denied the allegations, reiterating Beijing’s commitment to non-interference. The Indian diplomatic mission in Ottawa has yet to respond.
While direct links between foreign interference and election outcomes remain difficult to prove, CSIS warned that these activities can have a corrosive effect on public trust in Canada’s democratic processes.