QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Cybersecurity and Election Integrity
April 9, 2019
Honourable senators, my question is to the Government Representative in the Senate. In its recent update on cyber-threats to Canada’s democratic process, the CSE stated:
We judge it very likely that Canadian voters will encounter some form of foreign cyber interference related to the 2019 federal election.
I should add that “very likely” is a very high standard for the CSE, as they explain in the report.
As members know, the Government of Canada recently announced the creation of the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force, which is comprised of officials from CSIS, the RCMP, Global Affairs and CSE.
Senator Harder, can you give us an update on the activities of this task force and any progress they may have made to protect the integrity of the upcoming election?
I thank the honourable senator for his question. The matter has been raised in this chamber, both in Question Period and outside, as we have examined the threats of cybersecurity to democratic processes.
The assessment to which the honourable senator refers does indeed confirm that it is highly likely that Canadian voters will encounter cyber interference ahead of or during the 2019 election. The government has and will continue to work with CSE to identify, assess and respond to potential threats to the election. In particular, I reference three actions that have been taken.
First, the government recently announced the creation of the Cybersecurity Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force — the so-called SITE Task Force. It is comprised of officials from CSIS, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Global Affairs Canada and CSE. In anticipation of the 2019 election, the SITE Task Force will help the government assess and respond to foreign threats.
Second, CSE will assist Canadian political parties and election administrators as appropriate. CSE, in coordination with the cyber centre, has offered to provide cyber security advice and guidance to all major political parties, in part through a brochure on cybersecurity and campaign teams.
Finally, CSE’s “Get Cyber Safe” campaign will also continue to publish relevant advice and guidance in advance of the 2019 election.
With respect to the specific question, all of these measures are now underway. I think it’s best we let the expected channels of advice and communication continue to advise those who are most threatened and bring to the public attention, when necessary, the state of concern.
