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According to Canada’s top spy agency, the Chinese government’s efforts to interfere in Canadian elections pose a significant threat to the nation’s democratic processes. 

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), in its annual report released Tuesday, highlighted Beijing’s ongoing covert activities aimed at influencing Canadian policy-making across various levels of government, academia, and the media. This revelation follows an official inquiry that confirmed China’s attempts to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian elections.

The report described these efforts as attempts to “advance PRC national interests,” which could potentially “undermine Canada’s democratic process and its institutions.” According to CSIS, organizations connected to the Chinese Communist Party pose a continuous risk to Canada’s information sectors and democratic structures.

In response to these findings, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration introduced draft legislation on Monday aimed at curbing foreign interference. This new measure would establish a registry for individuals lobbying on behalf of foreign countries and grant CSIS greater leeway to share information publicly.

Despite the claims, China routinely refutes this stance, asserting that it does not engage in such activities.