Political Science Speaker Series

Friday, Jan. 17, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

SN-2033

The Forgotten Frontline: Canada’s Sub-National Governments and the Battle Against Foreign Election Interference

Tamara A. Small

University of Guelph

Abstract:
Foreign interference is not a new phenomenon but an evolving one. Two interrelated phenomena, a new era of globalization and digital technologies, have coincided to create this challenge to democratic elections. The Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions is a federal body. The objective of the public inquiry is to examine and assess foreign interference in federal electoral processes and democratic institutions with respect to the 2019 and 2021 elections. However, as one media commentator opined “does anyone seriously believe that hostile foreign states confine their efforts at foreign interference to the federal level of government and only during federal elections?” This analysis takes up the call to look beyond federal politics in understanding foreign interference by focusing on election law. While there has been extensive action on the part of the federal government, what of Canada’s sub-national governments? To what extent have the provinces and territories addressed the threat of foreign interference in their respective election laws? Answering this question is the objective of this analysis. The comparative analysis finds that little is occurring legislatively at the sub-national level in Canada to combat foreign election interference. Canada’s provinces and territories are a forgotten frontline.

Speaker Bio:

Tamara A. Small is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Guelph. She is a leading expert on the use of digital technologies by Canadian political actors. In addition to conducting research on digital campaigning in eight federal elections, she has published work on political memes and the regulatory framework for digital technologies in Canadian elections. She is the co-editor of Digital Politics in Canada: Promises and Realities (UTP).

Presented by Dr. Sarah Martin

Event Listing 2025-01-17 14:30:00 2025-01-17 15:30:00 America/St_Johns Political Science Speaker Series The Forgotten Frontline: Canada’s Sub-National Governments and the Battle Against Foreign Election Interference Tamara A. Small University of Guelph Abstract: Foreign interference is not a new phenomenon but an evolving one. Two interrelated phenomena, a new era of globalization and digital technologies, have coincided to create this challenge to democratic elections. The Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions is a federal body. The objective of the public inquiry is to examine and assess foreign interference in federal electoral processes and democratic institutions with respect to the 2019 and 2021 elections. However, as one media commentator opined “does anyone seriously believe that hostile foreign states confine their efforts at foreign interference to the federal level of government and only during federal elections?” This analysis takes up the call to look beyond federal politics in understanding foreign interference by focusing on election law. While there has been extensive action on the part of the federal government, what of Canada’s sub-national governments? To what extent have the provinces and territories addressed the threat of foreign interference in their respective election laws? Answering this question is the objective of this analysis. The comparative analysis finds that little is occurring legislatively at the sub-national level in Canada to combat foreign election interference. Canada’s provinces and territories are a forgotten frontline. Speaker Bio: Tamara A. Small is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Guelph. She is a leading expert on the use of digital technologies by Canadian political actors. In addition to conducting research on digital campaigning in eight federal elections, she has published work on political memes and the regulatory framework for digital technologies in Canadian elections. She is the co-editor of Digital Politics in Canada: Promises and Realities (UTP). SN-2033 Dr. Sarah Martin