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The head of Canada's intelligence agency says a potentially split Alberta vote could be vulnerable to new information and foreign interference from players like Russia.
In an interview with the CBC house, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) director Dan Rogers said it was his agency's mission to “understand and investigate” foreign interference.
“And a poll like the one in Alberta, which could have a divisive effect on the community, is full of amplification or the kind of disinformation or interference from other countries that we've seen from players like Russia in the past,” said trustee Catherine Cullen.
His comments come after a report came out this week from a team of researchers who warned Russian and pro-Trump US actors are amplifying and spreading anonymous information about the separation of Alberta in the hope of sowing distrust in key institutions and officials, and undermining unity.
The report, written by DisinfoWatch, the Canadian Digital Media Research Network and CASiLabs, identified a number of threats, from covert influence campaigns from countries like Russia and China, to public comments and actions by the Trump administration to encourage separatists in Alberta.
Rogers would not directly answer questions about any ongoing investigation.
“Obviously I know the Russian information and the disinformation ecosystem out there,” he said.
“And I've seen reports from academic institutions and other public institutions that have called that, and it's very consistent with what we've seen in Russia in the past.”
Smith says there is 'no concrete evidence' national actors are interfering
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday the RCMP told her government “there is no concrete evidence that we are seeing any federal actors interfering in our politics.”
He added that he pursued a top secret security clearance so “he can be sure that remains the case.”
“We think Albertans are smart enough to look at different points of view and figure things out,” Smith said.
An academic report published this week also said that US President Donald Trump's statements about Canada have given impetus to the movement.
Rogers stressed that for CSIS, foreign interference is legally defined as being secretive, deceptive or involving a threat to any person..
“The kind of obvious comments that most people will see from lobbyists or officials of any country do not constitute foreign interference, in that sense,” he said.
A civil society report predicts an intensified anti-information campaign if the independence referendum is approved by the Oct. 19 — the day Smith has set aside for polls.
Rogers said it is difficult to predict the situation, adding that Russia is a player “that has always wanted to increase divisive issues around the world, sow distrust in institutions, and show a tendency to look at democratic processes.”
“I think it's wise to remember that and for Canadians to remember that, especially Albertans, as they exercise their political rights in the referendum,” she said.
CSIS's annual report, presented last week in the House of Commons, showed that the service used threat mitigation powers – operational measures it can take to stop or weaken a threat to Canada's security – 16 times last year, with a warrant and others without.
Alberta separatists have filed a petition to force a referendum and claim to have received 300,000 signatures, but the government has yet to commit to anything. Meanwhile, there are calls for an investigation into possible privacy violations by another separatist group.
Although the report says that CSIS is working to reduce Russia's sophisticated disinfection methods, Rogers would not say whether any of those measures to reduce threats involved the Alberta poll.
“I expect we will continue to use it many times this year. Unfortunately, I can't say the details,” he said.
CSIS has been informing the General Projects Office
As Prime Minister Mark Carney promises to build projects of national importance including ports, railways, power lines and the development of important minerals very quickly, CSIS's The annual report showed that it had been informing the General Projects Office about potential risks.
The office serves usthe proposed projects shepherd on the line.
The CSIS report warns that “stconsumers who want to advance their interests at the expense of Canada can direct the public and private sector working on these projects.”
“We need to focus on supporting the government's economic plan as the new government comes in,” said Rogers.
The agency has been providing intelligence and analysis of projects under consideration.
“There may be concerns about who controls critical infrastructure because of their ability to use or disrupt that critical infrastructure,” Rogers said.
“There may be concerns about a supply chain or infrastructure that could be installed in Canada that could be used for multiple purposes, including espionage. CSIS should be mindful of that potential, and try to work with the government to prevent those threats from becoming apparent.”
Under the Building Canada Actthe minister in charge must conduct a national security review of all government or foreign investment from hostile countries in any national project of interest.
