Canada’s intelligence agency has warned that China and India are likely to attempt to interfere in upcoming elections.
The Deputy Director of operations for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Vanessa Lloyd said on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, that the agency is braced for efforts to meddle in the April 28 vote.
Canadians will head to the polls next month after Prime Minister Mark Carney this week triggered the vote, seeking to build on his Liberal Party’s momentum since the start of the year.
The Liberal Party’s momentum has been driven by the trade war unleashed by United States President Donald Trump.
The election date is way ahead of the original date in October.
Lloyd told a media conference that China and India pose a threat of election interference in elections around the globe.
“The PRC (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.”
Vanessa Lloyd
She added that Beijing is also “highly likely” to use social media to promote narratives favourable to its interests – and to specifically target Chinese ethnic, cultural and religious communities in Canada using “clandestine and deceptive” means.
Also, she noted that India has the “intent and capability” to do likewise, adding that Russia and Pakistan could also potentially seek to interfere.
“It’s often very difficult to establish a direct link between foreign interference activities and election results. Nevertheless, threat activities can erode public trust in the integrity of Canada’s democratic processes and institutions.”
Vanessa Lloyd
Ottawa reported in January that the pair had meddled in elections in both 2019 and 2021.
The Foreign Interference Commission said that while interference was not a new phenomenon, it was rising, and the methods were changing.
Canada’s warning comes amidst heightened diplomatic tensions between Ottawa and Beijing or Delhi.
Ottawa recently condemned China’s use of the death penalty after Beijing said four Canadian citizens were executed on drug smuggling charges.
Six Indian diplomats were expelled from Canada last year over allegations that they were involved in a plot against Sikh separatists in the country.
Moreover, the CSIS Deputy Director asserted that Russia and Pakistan could also potentially conduct foreign interference activities against Canada.
She mentioned that Russia has tried to build “dissemination networks” across social media and news websites that “amplify Kremlin talking points.”
“It is possible that Russia will use these online networks to opportunistically conduct foreign information manipulation and interference operations directed at Canadians.”
Vanessa Lloyd
China Slams Canada’s Warning
Asked about the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) warning, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs retorted that Beijing has always resisted interfering in foreign countries’ internal affairs and had “never had any interest in interfering in Canada’s internal affairs.”
China and India have denied similar allegations from Canada in the past, which has only antagonised frayed relations.
Meanwhile, Canada is also embroiled in trade tiffs with China.
The World Trade Organization said on Monday that Canada had launched a complaint against China.
Beijing in early March announced tariffs on more than $2.6bn worth of Canadian agricultural and food products in retaliation for levies on Chinese electric vehicles and steel and aluminium products imposed last year.
The spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Beijing’s “countermeasures are completely reasonable and in accordance with the law.”
The spokesperson urged Canada to take concrete actions to correct “its wrong practices” and provide normal trade and cooperation for the two countries’ enterprises.
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