With the possibility of two sovereignty referendums on the horizon in Canada, the head of the nation’s intelligence agency is preparing for potential interference from foreign adversaries. Dan Rogers, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), expressed concerns about the risk of information operations or meddling in these referendums during an interview with CBC’s “Power & Politics.”
Rogers emphasized the importance of vigilance against foreign interference in the upcoming referendums in Alberta and Quebec. While acknowledging that CSIS does not intervene in Canadians expressing their opinions, he highlighted the vulnerability posed by the manipulation of information by external actors. Any attempts by foreign entities to sow division among Canadians and promote specific narratives are viewed as a significant concern by the intelligence agency.
The sovereigntist Parti Québécois is moving forward with plans for a referendum if it wins the next year’s election, following previous unsuccessful attempts in 1980 and 1995. In Alberta, there is a growing debate around the possibility of separation, with Premier Danielle Smith’s government recently easing the requirements for holding a referendum on the matter.
Issues of foreign meddling in referendums have been fueled by past allegations of interference, such as Russia’s purported involvement in the 2016 Brexit referendum. Rogers also highlighted the intelligence community’s focus on China and Russia’s strategic interests in the Arctic region, emphasizing China’s economic ambitions and Russia’s unpredictable behavior in the area. He further revealed China’s attempts to target sensitive information in Canada by recruiting individuals with access to government intelligence through online platforms.
Rogers’ remarks come following his inaugural speech, where he underscored the intelligence community’s efforts to monitor and counter foreign interference threats, particularly from China and Russia. The potential for external actors to influence the outcomes of the upcoming referendums underscores the need for heightened vigilance and preparedness by Canadian authorities.