Canada is on track to appoint its inaugural foreign interference commissioner. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has informed recognized opposition parties and Senate groups of the government’s selection for the commissioner role.
Anandasangaree anticipates revealing the commissioner’s identity soon, stating, “I’m hoping by next week or two. There is a name that we have proposed and we are looking for feedback before we make the appointment,” during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Legislation on foreign interference, enacted by Parliament in 2024, mandates that the government consult opposition parties before officially appointing a candidate. The legislation specifies the title of the appointee as the foreign influence transparency commissioner.
While Anandasangaree refrained from disclosing the candidate’s name, he provided some insights, stating, “I think the individual is of very high calibre, a high level of integrity and someone who I think … all Canadians will be very proud of,” in an interview with CBC News on Monday.
Anandasangaree’s remarks follow Parliament’s decision a year and a half ago to establish the position and create a foreign interference registry listing individuals working in Canada as agents for foreign governments.
Addressing concerns that the delay in proposing a candidate was linked to trade talks with China, Anandasangaree dismissed such notions, asserting, “No, this happened essentially the first week back. We were not able to finalize it before we rose but we’re doing it essentially the first day back in Parliament.”
In January, the government released draft regulations outlining its intentions for the foreign interference registry, building upon an inquiry led by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, which identified transnational repression in Canada as a significant issue, with the People’s Republic of China being highlighted as a prominent actor in foreign interference targeting Canadian democratic institutions.
An investigation by CBC News, part of a global effort by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), revealed instances of Chinese transnational repression in Canada, showcasing an escalation in China’s assertiveness over time, particularly targeting dissidents who oppose Chinese government stances on various issues.