Bill C-70 · 44th Parliament · Justin Trudeau
Countering Foreign Interference Act
An Act respecting countering foreign interference
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedMay 6, 2024
- Debated in principleMay 29, 2024
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberJune 13, 2024
- Passed the second chamberJune 19, 2024
- Became lawJune 20, 2024
Leading supporters
Ranked by the part each played: who is responsible for the bill, who carried it, and who spoke for it most.
- Justin TrudeauPrime Minister
Who carries this bill
Arrows run from the person responsible to those who answer to them on this bill. The critic leads the Senate’s scrutiny and answers to no one on it.
What it set out to do
On 6 May 2024, the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs introduced Bill C-70, An Act respecting countering foreign interference (Countering Foreign Interference Act), and it was given first reading. Part 1 amends the Canadian Security Intelligence Act to, among other things, (a) update provisions respecting the collection, retention, querying and exploitation of datatsets; (b) clarify the scope of section 16 of that Act; (c) update provisions respecting the disclosure of information by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service; (d) provide for preservation orders and production orders as well as warrants to obtain information, records, documents or things through a single attempt; (e) expand the circumstances in which a warrant to remove a thing from the place where it was installed may be issued; and (f) require a parliamentary review of that Act every five years. It also makes a consequential amendment to the Intelligence Commissioner Act. Part 2 amends the Security of Information Act to, among other things, create the following offences: (a) committing an indictable offence at the direction of, for the benefit of, or in association wi…
Summary by the Library of Parliament.
Where members stand
Votes and debate for this bill have not been read yet.
How it changed on the way
11% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (28,367 words introduced, 28,763 passed). A committee amended it.
moderate changeintent mostly kept
The bill retained its core amendments to the CSIS Act, Security of Information Act and new foreign influence registry but added transitional provisions for existing arrangements and refined privacy exceptions in disclosure rules. Eleven percent of the text changed through targeted additions and wording updates between introduction and royal assent.
- Added new section on response to special reports and transitional rules for existing foreign arrangements.
After: “32 Response Transitional Provisions 33 Existing arrangements — federal processes 34 Existing arrangements — provincial, territorial or municipal processes 35 Existing arrangements — Indigenous processes”
- Expanded exception for personal information in disclosures under section on public interest.
Before: “b) the information does not contain any personal information , as defined in section 3 of the Privacy Act , of a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or any individual in Canada;”
After: “b) the information does not contain any personal information , as defined in section 3 of the Privacy Act , of a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or any individual in Canada, other than personal information of the individual to whom the information is disclosed;”
- Expanded exception for corporate names in the same disclosure provision.
Before: “c) the information does not contain the name of a corporation incorporated or continued under the laws of Canada or a province or the name of a Canadian entity.”
After: “c) the information does not contain the name of a corporation incorporated or continued under the laws of Canada or a province or the name of a Canadian entity, other than the name of the corporation or entity to which the information is disclosed.”
How precisely it is written
vagueChallenging the law: EasyDisputing a charge: Moderate
The bill mixes concrete offence elements and procedural rules with repeated subjective tests and discretionary powers. Vague phrases such as 'likely to harm', 'in the opinion of', and 'public interest' dominate key provisions.
Open to argument
“being reckless as to whether the conduct is likely to harm Canadian interests”
Uses 'likely' and 'reckless' without objective criteria, inviting argument over future harm.“that in the opinion of the Service is not relevant”
Grants the Service unilateral subjective judgment on relevance and deletion.“any measure that they consider necessary in the public interest”
Leaves judges to define 'necessary' and 'public interest' case by case.
Clear-cut
“Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for life.”
Clear penalty and classification remove doubt about maximum sentence.“A sentence, other than one of life imprisonment, imposed on a person for an offence under subsection (1) is to be served consecutively”
Mandatory consecutive service is stated without qualifiers.
Discretion. Extensive discretion remains with the Minister, Governor in Council (amending schedules), designated Service employees, and judges to decide relevance, necessity, public interest, and terms of warrants or authorizations.
Challenging the law itself. Vague standards such as 'likely to harm' and 'public interest' readily support Charter s. 7 vagueness or overbreadth claims.
Disputing a charge under it. Accused can dispute whether conduct was 'prejudicial', 'reckless', or served a 'purpose' that meets the subjective tests, though factual elements like direction by a foreign entity are clearer.
Read by a language model from the royal assent text; every quoted phrase appears in the bill. A reading of the drafting, not legal advice.
Did it work?
no evaluation found
Who lobbied on it
No lobbying registration naming this bill is loaded.
Stages and dates from LEGISinfo.