Canada

Archived version

Democracy Watch released the submission it has filed with the Hogue Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Canadian politics responding to both the Stage 2 Factual Phase hearings, and also the initial Policy Phase consultation documents.

DWatch’s 32-page submission calls on the Inquiry to broaden the scope of its examination this fall of whether Canada’s anti-foreign interference system is effective, and its witness list, to address all the loopholes and flaws in federal laws, and weak enforcement systems, that allow for secret, undemocratic and unethical foreign interference activities. Democracy Watch is an intervener in the Inquiry and is represented at the Inquiry by Wade Poziomka and Nick Papageorge of Ross & McBride LLP.

Out of the 67 witnesses scheduled so far for the Inquiry’s hearings this fall, 52 are Cabinet ministers or government representatives, and 12 come from other federal parties or Parliament, none of whom are likely to point out loopholes or flaws that benefit themselves, their lobbyist friends or party supporters. Last March, Democracy Watch submitted to the Hogue Inquiry a list of 10 key witnesses and about 140 key questions to ask them, but the Inquiry has not, so far, scheduled 5 of the 10 witnesses to testify.