No direct threats to the election yet - but foreign actors are getting ready to meddle: officials

Canada - No direct threats to the election yet - but foreign actors are getting ready to meddle: officials

Threshold will be high for going public with any interference attempts in the upcoming election

Catharine Tunney · CBC News · 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/election-interference-october-protocol-1.5205485

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"At this time, we haven't seen direct threats to the 2019 general election," the official said.

CSIS continues to observe hostile foreign actors "taking steps to position themselves to clandestinely influence, promote or discredit certain messages, candidates or groups during the campaign," the official added.

Earlier this year, the federal government announced it would set up an internal team — the 'critical election incident public protocol panel' — to sound the alarm if it sees evidence the October federal election is being undermined.

'A last resort'

The group is made up of five bureaucrats who will alert the public if they become aware of interference during the campaign period, also known as the writ period. It will be made up of the Privy Council clerk, the national security adviser and the deputy ministers of foreign affairs, justice and public safety.

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