Canada PM warns of Russian interference in parliamentary polls
PTI, Apr 6, 2019, 10:10 AM IST
Image for Representation
Ottawa: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday warned of the risk of interference by Russia in Canadian parliamentary elections scheduled for this fall.
“We’ve seen over the past number of years an increase in the interference or the implication of foreign actors in democratic processes,” Trudeau told a news conference in Toronto.
“We saw very clearly that countries like Russia are behind a lot of the divisive campaigns, a lot of the divisive social media, you know, spreads that have turned our politics even more divisive and more anger-filled than they have been in the past,” he said.
“Our minister of democratic institutions, Karina Gould, is moving forward on a number of significant ways to ensure that the election that is coming up in six months will be decided by Canadians,” he added.
“That is what Canadians expect.”
The Canadian leader echoed his foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, who said that outside interference in the country’s upcoming vote was “very likely.”
“We are very concerned. Our judgment is that interference is very likely and we think there have probably already been efforts by malign foreign actors to disrupt our democracy,” Freeland said on the sidelines of a G7 meeting in northern France.
“What we are seeing in many liberal democracies, the effort is not so much to secure a particular outcome in an election,” she said. “The effort is to make our societies more polarized and make us, as citizens of democracies, more cynical about democracy and that it can work.”
Facing such risks, Ottawa announced in late January the establishment of a special task force to fight disinformation and foreign meddling in the upcoming polls.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
‘Overseas Friends of BJP’ organises Silicon Valley ‘havan’ to pray for PM Modi’s re-election
Defence minister Rajnath Singh and Austin discuss growing momentum in defence ties between India and US
Pakistan conducts airstrikes inside Afghanistan; 8 people killed
Putin is poised to extend his rule in highly orchestrated vote even as Russians quietly protest
North Korea resumes missile tests, raising tensions with its rivals after their military drills end
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Man jumps off third floor of Mantralaya building in Mumbai, lands on safety net
Lok Sabha polls: 4,914 weapon holders in Jammu directed to deposit firearms with police
‘Overseas Friends of BJP’ organises Silicon Valley ‘havan’ to pray for PM Modi’s re-election
I am tough guy to handle but KKR would be at better place by the time I leave: Gambhir
Defence minister Rajnath Singh and Austin discuss growing momentum in defence ties between India and US