Hello, and welcome back.
In discussions about foreign interference, one misunderstanding appears again and again.
Many people assume that foreign interference is associated with a particular country, ethnicity, or community.
That assumption is incorrect.
Canada does not define foreign interference by nationality.
It defines it by behaviour.
This distinction is fundamental.
Canada is home to people from every part of the world.
Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.
Millions of Canadians maintain family ties, business relationships, academic partnerships, cultural exchanges, and professional networks across international borders.
These connections enrich Canadian society.
They are not the problem.
The concern arises only when a foreign state—or someone acting on its behalf—uses secretive, deceptive, coercive, or otherwise inappropriate means to influence Canada’s democratic institutions, public policy, national security, or public interest.
Different countries may pursue different objectives.
Some may seek to influence elections or public policy.
Others may attempt to acquire sensitive technologies, intellectual property, or research.
Some may conduct online disinformation campaigns.
Others may intimidate members of diaspora communities living in Canada.
Although the methods differ, the underlying concern is the same.
The issue is not where someone comes from.
It is how they behave.
That is why it is important to avoid two equally misleading assumptions.
The first is to dismiss every discussion of foreign interference as political rhetoric.
The second is to regard every interaction involving a particular country or community as suspicious.
Neither approach reflects Canada’s values.
Canada remains committed to openness.
International cooperation, diplomacy, trade, scientific research, cultural exchange, and community partnerships continue to benefit our country.
Protecting national security should never require abandoning those strengths.
Instead, Canada seeks to protect openness by ensuring it cannot be exploited through covert or coercive activities.
So remember:
Foreign interference is about behaviour—not identity.
Protecting Canada’s security should always go hand in hand with fairness, inclusion, and respect for every community that calls Canada home.
In our next episode, we’ll explore another important concept.
What is transnational repression?
Thank you for watching.
An informed public is the strongest foundation of a resilient democracy.
Together, let’s safeguard Canada.
This series is intended for public education. It draws upon publicly available information from Canadian legislation, government publications, public inquiries, and other open sources. It does not represent the views of any government institution.