EXPLAINER: Half a Year After Feds Relented on Holding Foreign Interference Inquiry, Where Does It Stand?

Canada’s public inquiry into foreign interference, launched after widespread allegations of Beijing’s election meddling, has already met with criticism, as the appointed judge is set to outline findings early in the new year. The public inquiry will unfold in two phases: the first commencing in early 2024 and the second in the fall. An initial report is due by Feb. 29, 2024, with the final report expected by Dec. 31, 2024. The initial phase will focus on scrutinizing alleged interference by China and other malign foreign actors that may have influenced Canada’s 2019 and 2021 federal elections. In the second phase, the inquiry will look at potential government measures to counteract such interference....