Our Mission
Our organization is advocating for stronger laws and policies to protect Canadians and diaspora communities from foreign authoritarian regimes that seek to silence, intimidate, and control them. These regimes—including China, Russia, and Iran—are actively interfering in Canadian democracy, threatening communities, and undermining national security.
Foreign interference and transnational repression—when authoritarian regimes harass, intimidate, or control their citizens abroad—are not just happening elsewhere. They are happening right now, in Canada. These regimes are using covert tactics to manipulate elections, harass dissidents, threaten journalists, and infiltrate Canadian institutions. We must act urgently to implement stronger laws, accountability measures, and protections for victims.
Why This Matters
Foreign regimes are actively targeting Canadians, Canadian institutions, and diaspora communities in an attempt to manipulate, silence, and intimidate. Here’s what’s happening in Canada right now:
1. Canadians Are Being Harassed and Threatened on Canadian Soil
- China, Iran, and Russia have targeted journalists, activists, and dissidents living in Canada, using threats, coercion, and intimidation.
- China has illegally operated police stations in Canada to pressure and control members of the Chinese diaspora.
- Iranian regime operatives have targeted critics of the regime, using physical threats and digital harassment.
2. Foreign Regimes Are Interfering in Canadian Politics
- China has secretly worked to influence Canadian elections by manipulating nomination processes and funding certain candidates.
- Foreign agents have infiltrated Canadian government agencies, universities, and businesses to shape policy in their favor.
- There is no clear, enforced mechanism to prevent foreign influence on political decisions in Canada.
3. Covert Attacks on Canadian Institutions
- Foreign intelligence services have launched cyberattacks on Canadian businesses and government agencies to steal data and manipulate public opinion.
- State-backed hackers from China and Russia have spread disinformation on Canadian social media to undermine democracy and trust in institutions.
- Academic institutions have been pressured to censor discussions on Tibet, Hong Kong, and Uyghur genocide by foreign governments.
4. The Threat of Violence and Digital Repression
- Authoritarian regimes have used Canada as a base for intelligence gathering, harassment, and even attempted assassinations.
- Iran has targeted and attempted to eliminate dissidents living in Canada.
- Activists, journalists, and politicians have been doxxed and cyberstalked by state-backed actors.
Our Policy Recommendations
To safeguard Canadian sovereignty and protect vulnerable communities, we propose 37 key policy changes, including:
1. Strengthening Government Response
- Create a dedicated agency to coordinate responses to transnational repression.
- Appoint a Foreign Influence Commissioner to investigate foreign interference.
- Establish a public reporting hotline to help victims report incidents of foreign influence.
- Legally define “transnational repression” and “foreign interference” to enable stronger enforcement.
2. Closing Legal Loopholes
- Update Canada’s national security laws to reflect modern threats, including digital interference.
- Expand the Lobbying Act to require foreign state-affiliated individuals—including unpaid operatives—to register.
- Strengthen the Canada Elections Act to prevent foreign actors from manipulating Canadian elections.
3. Holding Perpetrators Accountable
- Create a civil cause of action for transnational repression so victims can seek justice.
- Criminalize “refugee espionage” to prevent foreign regimes from monitoring and controlling their diaspora in Canada.
- Enforce bans and deportations for individuals engaged in transnational repression.
- Implement a Foreign Agents Registry to track individuals acting on behalf of foreign states.
4. Protecting Victims
- Provide security services for targeted individuals to prevent intimidation and threats.
- Offer psychological and trauma support for victims of transnational repression.
- Create a victims’ support fund to assist with legal aid, housing, and cybersecurity measures.
- Develop education programs to inform vulnerable communities about their rights and safety.
5. Strengthening Canada’s Global Leadership
- Lead global efforts to combat transnational repression by advocating for a UN Special Rapporteur on Transnational Repression.
- Push for an international treaty on combatting foreign interference.
- Enhance intelligence sharing with allies to track foreign threats and prevent infiltration.
6. Stopping Foreign Influence in Canada
- Shut down illegal foreign police stations operating in Canada.
- Monitor and track cases of transnational repression to build comprehensive watchlists.
- Enforce targeted sanctions on foreign officials and companies complicit in repression.
- Terminate Canada’s legal assistance treaty with China and review cooperation with other authoritarian states.
- Ban and sanction surveillance companies that help foreign regimes track and harass Canadians.
The Bottom Line
Foreign interference and transnational repression are direct threats to Canadian democracy, national security, and human rights. Canada must take action to ensure no foreign regime can intimidate, control, or influence Canadians on Canadian soil.
We are working with policymakers, security experts, and civil society organizations to implement these urgent reforms.
Join our advocacy efforts and help us push for stronger protections against foreign interference.