Joly, Mendicino to appear at foreign interference inquiry today

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and former public safety minister Marco Mendicino are set to appear today before the federal commission of inquiry examining foreign interference in Canada’s democratic and institutional affairs.

The latest phase of the inquiry is focusing on how well federal agencies detect, assess, and respond to attempts by foreign actors to influence Canadian politics, policy, and society. Officials from Global Affairs Canada, Joly’s department, testified late last week about the challenges of monitoring and countering international interference efforts.

Commissioners are expected to question Joly on diplomatic coordination, intelligence-sharing, and the government’s approach to protecting Canada’s foreign policy from external manipulation. Mendicino, who previously oversaw national security and policing, is anticipated to discuss past decisions related to threat response and public communication.

Following this week’s testimony, the inquiry will move into a series of policy sessions aimed at developing recommendations for government action. A final report is scheduled to be released by the end of this year.