Confronting Foreign Interference: Possibilities and Limitations of Canada’s Public Inquiry

Moninder Singh | @akali_babbar

Canada's Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference began a round of public hearings last week with the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee, BC Gurdwaras Council, and World Sikh Organization participating collectively as an ad hoc "Sikh Coalition".

While the inclusion of India within the scope of the Inquiry is an important step towards openly acknowledging India's subversive activities in Canada, it is important to note that this is only one step in this direction. The Commission was appointed with a very narrowly defined scope–investigating interference activity in the past two federal elections alone (2019 and 2021). This limited scope provides an opportunity to confirm that India is involved in electoral interference in Canada but does not itself directly lead to accountability or prevention.  

There are also a number of other challenges participants expect to face throughout the process. Given the exceptionally tight timelines established by the Government’s Terms of Reference, the Commission will have to divide its time and resources to simultaneously investigate multiple foreign actors while moving at an intense pace to meet its mandated reporting deadlines. Participants can also anticipate running up against Government requests to keep a significant degree of relevant information and detail secret in the name of “national security”. 

The findings of the Commissioner can provide public evidence and confirmation of India’s foreign interference from a credible, non-partisan and non-governmental source. The inclusion of this information will not be a final victory for the community or the ultimate solution to the challenges we face; it will be a building block upon which future advocacy and work will be built. 

While Sikh organizations work diligently to expose India's clandestine activities in Canada, participation in the Inquiry will only be one limited avenue to ensure the Government of Canada holds India accountable for its unjustified and illegal activities targeting the Sikh sangat and Canadian institutions. Beyond this process, it is imperative that Sikh organizations and sangat continue to work collectively to ensure that the full scope of India's activities are brought to light and countered effectively.

Most importantly however, Sikh naujawan, organizations and jathebandiyan are clear that these venues and processes are not the solution or focus of our ultimate work to carry the Sikh sangarsh for Khalistan forward. Engagement in these spaces is a means of defence to expose India’s violent and authoritarian tendencies while fighting back to ensure that India is not able to extend its extrajudicial violence and repression outside its border. Alongside efforts like this, Sikh sangat will continue to organize and mobilize to collectively assert and exercise the sovereignty bestowed upon us by Guru Sahib.