The Honourable Karina Gould Minister of Democratic Institutions at the Canadian International Council
Speech
Thank you and good morning/afternoon!
Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that the land on which we are gathered is the traditional territory of First Nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
I would like to thank the Canadian International Council for inviting me to speak with you today. I applaud your dedication to promoting open dialogue with Canadians and governance that, in the words of your former president R.M. Fowler, exemplifies “the informed and thoughtful public opinion of Canadians.”
Ninety-one years ago, when a handful of prominent Canadians first assembled in Ottawa to christen the Canadian Institute of International Affairs, it was in response to concerns that a young democracy’s progress might be hamstrung by political apathy and ignorance of current affairs among its citizens.
Nearly a century later, these are still issues of concern. Moreover, that aura of apathy is exacerbated by widespread cynicism, skepticism, or mistrust.
Or so we are to believe. But that is not the end of the story.
I trust Canadians. I trust Canadians to make an informed choice. I trust Canadians to be engaged.
What I, and you, am hesitant to trust implicitly is the source of that information.
This month, the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) issued an update to its authoritative 2017 report, Cyber Threats to Canada’s Democratic Process. That initial study—the first publicly available report of its kind in the world‑‑had concluded that it is “very likely” Canadian voters will encounter foreign cyber interference during the weeks and months that precede the next federal election.
Those weeks and months are upon us.
With the General Election only a few months away, it remains very likely that malicious actors will pursue such interference. Moreover, in the two years since the CSE’s first report, coordinated and individual cyber threat activity has grown that much more sophisticated and that much more malicious.
That is why the CSE has issued a timely update to its groundbreaking analysis. The update—which, like the 2017 report is publicly available‑‑reveals that half of the advanced democracies holding national elections in 2018 experienced cyber threat activity. That is a three-fold increase since 2015.
That trend will continue.
Canada is one of several democratic countries whose citizens will go to the polls in 2019. Each is bracing for foreign interference.
In a few weeks, the European Parliament elections will take place. A recent report by the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service investigated the probability of state-sponsored interference in those elections. The conclusion: “Very likely.”
As we meet, Canadians in Ukraine are working diligently to help protect the integrity of that country’s electoral process. Canada has committed to funding, resources and personnel to strengthen our ally’s effort to advance electoral reform, gender equality and inclusive governance.
Our role in furthering democracy has earned Canada respect on the world stage. We liaise with fellow advanced democracies and share best practices. We maintain membership and active participation in a number of crucial alliances.
We recognize the urgency of stymying an evolving international threat that uses ‘fake news’ and disinformation to try to undermine us.
Canada is not immune to threats. Indeed, we are a prime target. As the election nears, voters could be targeted. Political parties, candidates and administration could be targeted. The election itself could be targeted.
That much seems probable. With each advance in technology comes a new avenue for subterfuge. Without a concerted, comprehensive effort to deter cyber threats, illicit activity will only accelerate.
That is why Canada has taken action to protect our democratic processes and to ensure the 2019 General Election represents the informed and thoughtful opinion of Canadians.
Action to increase transparency for social media, like provisions within the Elections Modernization Act that require major online platforms to maintain a registry of partisan and election advertising published during the pre-election and election periods.
Action to assess, identify and combat cyber threats through the newly established Canadian Centre for Cyber Security and the coordinated Security and Intelligence Threats to Election (SITE) Task Force, which represents an unprecedented collaboration of expertise among the RCMP, CSIS, the CSE and Global Affairs Canada.
Action to safeguard our electoral process through the development of the G7’s Rapid Response Mechanism to threats to democracy and through the establishment of a non-partisan Critical Election Incident Public Protocol to inform Canadians of incidents that threaten the integrity of the federal election.
Action to eschew partisanship by providing Elections Canada as well as political parties, candidates, staff and volunteers with advice and guidance, as well as classified briefings, on perceived and potential threats and any systems vulnerabilities.
Action, as well, to maintain an informed and engaged citizenry through public-awareness efforts such as the CSE’s Get Cyber Safe campaign. It is imperative that Canadians think critically about the information on our screens. To consider the original source, the agenda‑‑the credibility‑‑of the news we ingest.
Social media platforms have acknowledged the risk posed by misinformation and disinformation. I have been working with and will continue to work with them to secure voluntary action to increase the transparency of advertising and to combat the use of cyber-technology for anti-democratic purposes.
It is time for social media platforms to acknowledge that with their influence comes great responsibility.
Not so we can quell the dissenting voice, but to ensure that voice is true.
As the Dalai Lama recently stated, “The ability to disagree freely is one of the great blessings of modern democracy.”
The coming weeks and months will be awash with disagreement. May it be rich with informed and thoughtful public discourse.
Thank you.
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