Canada's next election needs protection from foreign interference
Election season is stretching out across 2025. After more than 60 elections around the world last year, Canada is joining the party with the health of its democracy hanging in the balance of the upcoming federal election.
As a Canadian citizen born abroad, I know how important safeguarding the election process is because Romania, my home country, has continued to struggle with it. In December, the country’s Constitutional Court annulled the first round results of the presidential election due to foreign interference from Russia. The election will be held again in May, with one candidate out of the race after Romanian Intelligence Services found that his campaign had used undeclared funds exceeding one million Euros.
Canada is no stranger to this. For politicians in so-called “safe seats,” winning the party nomination competition nearly guarantees being elected to Parliament. Over half of Canada’s federal electoral districts have safe seats according to statistical modelling done by 338Canada. Before election day, these safe seats are up for grabs in party nomination races — opaque processes without independent oversight and standards — that create a vulnerability to foreign interference, according to Justice Hogue’s public inquiry.
The consensus among young people like myself is that politicians need to grow up and show up for Canadian democracy at a time when we need to hold a united front against multiple foreign threats. In the context of election integrity, this means passing relevant legislation informed by the recommendations of the Foreign Interference Commission’s Final Report. Additionally, empowering Elections Canada to hold an oversight role in party nomination races would create a higher across-the-board standard of accountability — something that is both necessary and lacking.
It is crucial that this is done ahead of the next federal election. Before sending voters to the polls this year, Parliament must put the necessary safeguards in place to protect party nomination races from foreign influence. Now is the time to call on Members of Parliament to amend the Canada Elections Act and safeguard our democracy.
Alex Porojan
Toronto Today
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Alex Porojan 3/25/2025 |
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