Opposition Conservatives will work quickly to pass foreign interference legislation proposed by the Liberal government, foreign affairs critic Michael Chong said on Tuesday, pointing to the tight timetable to implement the measures before the next federal election.
in a letter To Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Chong said the Conservatives propose introducing a unanimous consent motion at the end of debate during the second reading of Bill C-70. If adopted, it would allow “expedited approval” of the bill by the House of Commons and committee before receiving royal assent.
“As the general election approaches, time is running out to strengthen the confidence Canadians have in our elections,” wrote Chong, who testified that he was among China’s targets.
“The Conservatives will work in good faith to ensure the rapid advancement of Bill C-70 in the House while ensuring sufficient scrutiny of the bill’s measures. “I look forward to working with you to see this legislation passed through Parliament.”
Bill C-70 proposes new powers for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to investigate and combat foreign interference, as well as new and updated criminal offenses for sabotage, political interference and other offenses committed on behalf of foreign entities, along with increased prison sentences ranging from up to life behind bars.
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Chief among the proposed measures is a foreign influence register that would require anyone working for a foreign government, company or other entity involved in policy-making or political campaigns to register their activities with a new independent commissioner.
The bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons on May 6, sets a one-year deadline to operationalize the foreign influence transparency commissioner’s office, along with other proposed reforms.
The next election is scheduled to be held no later than October 2025, putting pressure on the House and Senate, which have not yet considered the bill, to pass the legislation quickly.
Achieving that, Chong said in a statement released by the Conservatives on Tuesday, is “vital to ensuring Canadians can go to the polls with confidence and free from intimidation or fear.”
LeBlanc said after introducing the legislation that he was hopeful that all of the provisions included in the bill would be in place by the time of the next election.
“I’m not pessimistic that we won’t be able to reach a consensus on the importance of implementing this legislation as quickly as possible,” he told reporters.
The legislation comes amid growing pressure on the federal government to strengthen its measures against foreign interference, particularly against elections and diaspora communities.
A public inquiry into the matter has noted that attempts by foreign actors to meddle in the last two federal elections undermined the trust of Canadians. Chong testified as a witness at the investigation.
The statements mark a rare moment of conservative support for liberal legislation. The opposition has spent months voting against almost all of the government’s priority legislation, arguing it is spending too much at a time of economic uncertainty for Canadians.
During heated testimony at a House defense committee meeting on Monday, Conservative MP Pat Kelly told Defense Minister Bill Blair that the party would continue to reject government spending initiatives as a sign of distrust.
“We will vote distrust towards this government at every opportunity,” he stated.
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