Bill to Counter Foreign Interference Adopted in Parliament Before Summer Break

The government bill to increase resilience against foreign interference sped through Parliament and was adopted before the Senate rose for summer. Bill C-70, An Act respecting countering foreign interference, had been introduced on May 6 by Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc. It cleared the last step in the Senate on June 19. A key aspect of the bill is the establishment of a foreign influence registry, a measure that has long been called for by security experts and members of diasporas targeted by foreign states. Officials have testified that once the legislation is passed, establishing the registry could take up to one year. The bill’s quick passage puts it on track to be in place before the planned October 2025 federal election....