Ottawa Unveils “Strong and Free Elections Act” to Combat Foreign Interference and Deepfakes

In a direct response to growing concerns over foreign meddling and the digital erosion of democratic trust, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon introduced the Strong and Free Elections Act on Thursday. The sweeping legislative package aims to plug vulnerabilities in Canada’s electoral system by tightening financial rules, banning deepfakes, and extending protections well beyond the traditional campaign window.

Speaking from Parliament Hill, MacKinnon framed the bill as a necessary evolution of the Canada Elections Act, asserting that the nation’s democratic processes must remain immune to outside influence.

“Canada’s elections belong to Canadians,” MacKinnon told reporters. “Outside money, influence, and threats have no place in them. These targeted amendments will further strengthen and secure our federal elections.”

One of the most significant shifts in the proposed legislation is the timeline of protection. Currently, many safeguards against foreign interference are only active during an official election period. The new bill would make these protections effective year-round, ensuring that foreign entities or organizations are prohibited from improperly influencing voters or offering bribes at any time.

The government is also seeking to empower enforcement. Under the new rules, the “administrative muscle” of the Commissioner of Canada Elections would be significantly bolstered. Fines for individuals would skyrocket from a maximum of $1,500 to $25,000, while organizations could face penalties of up to $100,000 a massive jump from the previous $5,000 cap.

The bill takes a hard line against the rise of generative AI, specifically banning sophisticated video deepfakes of candidates designed to mislead the public. Additionally, it would become a criminal offense to knowingly spread false information regarding the voting process itself with the intent to disrupt an election.

The legislation also addresses a recent logistical headache: the “long ballot” protest. In recent years, activists seeking to highlight flaws in the first-past-the-post system have flooded specific ridings with dozens of independent candidates, resulting in physically massive ballots that confused voters. To counter this, the bill mandates that voters may only sign one candidate’s nomination paper, and every candidate must have a unique official agent.

On the financial front, the government is moving to eliminate “untraceable” contributions. If passed, political parties and third-party groups would be barred from accepting donations in the form of: Cryptocurrency, Money orders and Prepaid credit cards

Beyond legislative changes, MacKinnon announced a $31.5 million investment over the next five years. The funds are earmarked for Global Affairs Canada’s Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM). The goal is to enhance the unit’s ability to detect and neutralize foreign information threats in real-time, rather than reacting after the damage is done.

The Strong and Free Elections Act incorporates several key recommendations from the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference (PIFI), led by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, signalling a bipartisan effort to restore public confidence in Canada’s democratic institutions.