Head of Canada’s diplomatic service holds interference briefing for foreign diplomats

By Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press on December 4, 2024.

David Morrison appears as a witness at the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions in Ottawa on Thursday, April 4, 2024. Morrison has briefed foreign envoys on foreign interference, saying the intense focus on the issue has created confusion among some diplomats on where their work might cross the line from influence into interference. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA – The head of Canada’s diplomatic service says he recently briefed diplomats working in Canada about where their work might cross the line from influence into foreign interference.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison tells The Canadian Press that the ongoing inquiry into foreign interference and extensive media coverage might have created uncertainty around the issue.

He says diplomats have “legitimate questions” as to where Canada draws the line.

Morrison says the international agreements governing the roles of diplomats apply everywhere but aren’t consistently understood, with some countries thinking everything is acceptable as long nobody is moving around ballot boxes.

He says some diplomats have privately expressed confusion about what is acceptable such as whether they can pose for a photo with elected officials at diaspora events.

Looking ahead to next year’s election, Morrison says he’s most concerned about artificial intelligence emboldening attacks from hostile states, particularly with deepfakes which are digitally generated videos and images that spoof people into thinking someone said or did something.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024.