Trudeau’s security adviser warned foreign agent registry could bring pushback – National | 24CA News

A newly launched memo exhibits the prime minister’s nationwide safety adviser warned him to anticipate some pushback from deliberate public consultations a few international agent registry, provided that nations have used such registries as instruments of management.

In her memo final August, Jody Thomas instructed Justin Trudeau the discussions “may elicit a range of reactions” – from applause to reservations.

“Concerns may be further amplified since some foreign governments, like Russia, have used ‘foreign agent registries’ to silence activists and shut down organizations critical of government,” Thomas mentioned.

However, she mentioned, nationwide safety specialists, Canada’s allies and diaspora teams focused by hostile states “will likely welcome these measures.”

The Canadian Press obtained the memo, marked Secret/Canadian Eyes Only, by way of the Access to Information Act. Portions of the doc, together with cupboard confidences and details about inner consultations, had been withheld from launch.

The memo reveals that Trudeau had a dialogue final June 30 with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about “establishing a foreign agent registry in Canada and Australia’s experience in that regard.”

Australia introduced in its Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 5 years in the past as a method of stopping outdoors interference within the nation’s affairs.

Internationally, international agent registries are thought of among the many greatest practices to counter malign exterior affect, the memo says. The U.S. Foreign Agent Registry Act has been in place since 1938 and the United Kingdom has additionally moved to implement such a scheme.

2:11Canadian authorities to start international agent registry consultations

Registries can require people to formally register with the federal government they’re attempting to affect to make such dealings extra clear, with the potential of fines and even jail time for failing to conform.

Following a flurry of media tales about alleged international interference, Public Safety Canada introduced a public session earlier this month on how Canada might implement a international affect transparency registry.

However, the Thomas memo signifies that final summer time the division was eyeing broader public consultations that will discover not solely a international registry however different measures to counter what the federal government calls hostile actions by state actors.

Such actions, supposed to undermine Canada’s pursuits, embrace actions which might be misleading, coercive, covert, threatening or unlawful. Goals embrace influencing change, acquiring army or financial benefits and getting access to delicate info or applied sciences.

“Hostile actors have become increasingly adept at exploiting Canada’s open, democratic system,” the memo says.

The broader consultations might embrace a have a look at modifications to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, the Criminal Code and the Security of Information Act, it provides.

Thomas confirmed to Trudeau that, “As per your direction, your office is engaged in the consultation planning.”

2:04Senator warns of international agent registry risks

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino signalled late final November in an interview that the federal government supposed to carry a public session on a international agent registry.

But he additionally careworn the significance of equipping legislation enforcement and nationwide safety companions with “a broad range of tools” to counter not solely international interference, however “hostile activities that are committed by state and non-state actors,” cyberattacks and ideologically motivated extremism.

Mendicino’s workplace had no speedy touch upon the standing of broader consultations.

Beyond public disclosure necessities for international brokers, Australia’s international affect transparency scheme imposes extra registration obligations and prohibitions for former cupboard ministers and senior public servants, Thomas’s memo notes.

It features a lifetime registration obligation for former cupboard ministers who go on to work for a international principal after leaving public workplace. In addition, any Australian who has acted as a international agent can’t serve in cupboard.

Australia’s expertise means that some former politicians and senior public servants selected to stop their actions as international brokers slightly than have their associations made public, the memo says. Other organizations have halted actions to keep away from registration, or proactively clarified their preparations with international principals to adjust to the legislative scheme.

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