CANADA ADVOCATES FOR A FOREIGN INFLUENCE TRANSPARENCY REGISTRY

Did a Tuesday morning Press Conference by concerned diaspora groups in Canada make a difference?

- DEAN BAXENDALE

In a defining moment for Canadian democracy, the urgency to adopt a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry, FITR (also known as FARA, US), was spotlighted in a press conference held at the Media Gallery of the West Block on Tuesday in Ottawa.

This event, crucially timed on the eve of Judge Hogue’s interim report on election interference, brought together a diverse coalition of community organizations and bipartisan parliamentary members, emphasizing the need for immediate legislative action.

During the conference, Gloria Fung, convenor of the presser and Coalition, passionately articulated the necessity of the registry, linking it directly to Canada’s national security: “The inquiry into Foreign Interference has clearly demonstrated the vulnerability of our democracy and multicultural communities to the threat of foreign interference, intimidation, and transnational repression,” Fung stated. Her plea was a clarion call for unity and immediate action among parliamentarians to protect these vulnerable groups.

Marcus Kolga, President of the Central and Eastern European Council in Canada, echoed Fung’s sentiments, underscoring the pressing need for legislative measures as elections loom. “The sovereignty of our democratic decision-making processes is at stake,” Kolga warned, pointing out the insidious nature of foreign authoritarian influence operations that continue to target Canada.