Sponsor:
Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs (Beauséjour)
Proposed changes
On 6 May 2024, the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs introduced Bill C-70, An Act respecting countering foreign interference (Countering Foreign Interference Act), and it was given first reading.
Part 1 amends the Canadian Security Intelligence Act to, among other things,
update provisions respecting the collection, retention, querying and exploitation of datatsets;
clarify the scope of section 16 of that Act;
update provisions respecting the disclosure of information by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service;
provide for preservation orders and production orders as well as warrants to obtain information, records, documents or things through a single attempt;
expand the circumstances in which a warrant to remove a thing from the place where it was installed may be issued; and
require a parliamentary review of that Act every five years.
It also makes a consequential amendment to the Intelligence Commissioner Act.
Part 2 amends the Security of Information Act to, among other things, create the following offences:
committing an indictable offence at the direction of, for the benefit of, or in association with a foreign entity;
knowingly engaging in surreptitious or deceptive conduct at the direction of, for the benefit of or in association with a foreign entity for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State or being reckless as to whether the conduct is likely to harm Canadian interests; and
engaging in surreptitious or deceptive conduct, at the direction of or in association with a foreign entity, with the intent to influence, among other things, the exercise of a democratic right in Canada.
It also amends that Act to remove as an element of the offence of inducing or attempting to induce — at the direction of, for the benefit of or in association with a foreign entity or terrorist group — by intimidation, threat or violence, a person to do anything or cause anything to be done, that the thing be done for the purpose of harming Canadian interests when the person who is alleged to have committed the offence or the victim has a link to Canada.
This is shortened to the first five points. The bill itself covers more.
Committee study
After second reading, a examines the bill clause by clause.
Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs
(SECD)
4 meetings
between June 10 and June 18, 2024
Who's lobbying on it
7 organizations named this bill in their lobbying registration or in
0 reported meetings. Their own words are quoted.
DEMOCRACY WATCHregistered to lobby on it · latest Jun 5, 2026
“Advocating changes to stop foreign interference (Bill C-70 of the 44-1 Parliament; Bill C-25 of the 45-1 Parliament, the Canada Elections Act, the Lobbying Act, the Conflict of Interest Act, the Conflict of Interest Code for…”
“Bill C-70 An Act respecting countering foreign interference with respect to Authorities to improving cyber security response to protect critical infrastructures.”
“Communicating with government officials about Bill C-70 (“An Act respecting countering foreign interference”).”
IBM Canada Ltdwas registered on it · latest Jul 31, 2024
“Communicating with government officials about Bill C-70 (“An Act respecting countering foreign interference”).”
From the Commissioner of Lobbying. A bill is listed when the lobbyist's description makes clear it means this bill, not one with the same number from another Parliament.
What MPs said
The most recent recorded speeches on this bill. Links go to the official transcript of that sitting.