During testimony at the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, Canadian officials monitoring the 2021 elections revealed that there was no indication of any attempt by India to influence the national polls. The inquiry, chaired by Justice Marie-Josee Hogue, heard from the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol panel, which emphasized the absence of alerts regarding foreign interference from India.
While no evidence of Indian interference surfaced, a briefing note submitted to the inquiry highlighted Chinese interference during the election cycle. The note, prepared by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), underscored clandestine activities by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in both the 2019 and 2021 general elections. The CSIS document pointed out that the principal opposition Conservative Party and its leader Erin O’Toole were targeted due to their critical stance on Beijing.
As the public hearings for the inquiry near their conclusion, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau among those expected to testify, India has firmly denied any involvement in Canadian electoral interference. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated India’s policy of non-interference in the democratic processes of other nations, countering allegations leveled during the hearings. Despite India’s denial, CSIS has cited India, along with other countries like Russia, Iran, and Pakistan, in connection with foreign interference activities in Canada, with China being identified as the primary actor in this sphere according to Canadian agencies.