The Liberal government has unveiled significant changes to the Canada Elections Act, designed to combat deepfakes, foreign interference, and other forms of digital manipulation that could undermine the democratic process. Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon introduced Bill C-25, the Strong and Free Elections Act, stating the amendments aim to "maintain the strength and resilience of Canada's electoral system". The move follows recommendations from the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions (PIFI), as well as input from the Chief Electoral Officer and the Commissioner of Canada Elections.
A key component of the reforms is a ban on "sophisticated deepfakes" of electoral actors, including candidates and political figures, intended to mislead Canadians. The legislation extends existing election protections beyond the campaign period, making them effective year-round. It also targets the spread of knowingly false information about election activities or voting procedures with the intent to disrupt the electoral process. The government clarified that the sanctions would only apply to those who knowingly spread untrue information, protecting good-faith opinions, satire, and parody.
The bill also addresses concerns about foreign funding and influence. It extends rules to prevent foreign entities from improperly influencing votes and bans offering or accepting bribes. Moreover, it restricts political financing by prohibiting parties from accepting donations in difficult-to-trace forms, such as cryptocurrency, money orders, and prepaid cards. Nomination and leadership contests will also be subject to greater scrutiny, with new measures to prevent foreign interference, bribery, and intimidation. The maximum amount for administrative fines would also increase to $25,000 from $1,500 for an individual, and to $100,000 from $5,000 for organizations.
In addition to legislative changes, the government will invest $31.5 million over five years to enhance the capacity of Global Affairs Canada's Rapid Response Mechanism. This investment aims to strengthen Canada's ability to detect and respond to foreign information threats that could harm Canadian interests. These measures reflect a commitment to safeguarding Canadian democracy in an era of evolving technological and geopolitical challenges.
