Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report

Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.

Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.

In an interim report Friday, commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue said while it is possible that outcomes in a small number of ridings were affected by meddling, this cannot be said with certainty.

Hogue, who heard extensive testimony and reviewed secret documents, found that interference by Beijing or others did not undermine the integrity of Canada's electoral system during the two national votes.

"Our system remains sound," Hogue said following release of her report. "Voters were able to cast their ballots, their votes were duly registered and counted and there is nothing to suggest that there was any interference whatsoever in this regard."

Nor did meddling efforts "have any impact on which party formed the government in the two most recent elections," she said.

However, Hogue concluded in her report that interference from abroad undermined public confidence in Canadian democracy. "This is perhaps the greatest harm Canada has suffered as a result of foreign interference."

The inquiry recently wrapped up 10 days of public hearings into suggestions of interference by China, India, Russia and others in the last two general elections.