After reviewing hundreds of documents and hearing hours of testimony, the inquiry investigating foreign interference in Canada’s last two federal elections will release its final report on January 28.
Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue’s conclusions, and any possible recommendations, come at a time when parliamentarians are preparing for an increasingly inevitable spring election.
Since last January, Hogue and his team of lawyers have heard hours of sometimes conflicting testimony about the extent of foreign interference in the last two elections by several countries, including China, Russia and India, and whether the information was shared with the right people in the elections. correct times.
The investigation’s initial report, made public in May, called foreign interference a “blemish” on this country’s electoral system, but Hogue said the meddling attempts did not affect which political party formed the government.
That first report noted that it is possible that results in a small number of constituencies were affected by foreign interference, “but this cannot be said with certainty.”
The second half of the public hearings focused on the ability of agencies and officials to identify and counter foreign meddling.
The federal investigation was sparked by media reports last year that, citing unnamed security sources and classified documents, accused China of interfering in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
Hogue’s final report was originally due late last year, but was granted an extension.
