An Act respecting foreign interference and the security of informationForeign Interference and Security of Information ActForeign Interference and Security of Information202411
12
O-5Alternative Title
Alternative titleThis Act may be cited as the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act.R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 1; 2001, c. 41, s. 252024, c. 16, s. 50
Interpretation
DefinitionsIn this Act,Attorney General means the Attorney General of Canada and includes his or her lawful deputy; (procureur général)communicate includes to make available; (communiquer)document includes part of a document; (document)foreign economic entity meansa foreign state or a group of foreign states, oran entity that is controlled, in law or in fact, or is substantially owned, by a foreign state or a group of foreign states; (entité économique étrangère)foreign entity meansa foreign power,a group or association of foreign powers, or of one or more foreign powers and one or more terrorist groups, ora person acting at the direction of, for the benefit of or in association with a foreign power or a group or association referred to in paragraph (b); (entité étrangère)foreign power meansthe government of a foreign state,an entity exercising or purporting to exercise the functions of a government in relation to a territory outside Canada regardless of whether Canada recognizes the territory as a state or the authority of that entity over the territory, ora political faction or party operating within a foreign state whose stated purpose is to assume the role of government of a foreign state; (puissance étrangère)foreign state meansa state other than Canada,a province, state or other political subdivision of a state other than Canada, ora colony, dependency, possession, protectorate, condominium, trust territory or any territory falling under the jurisdiction of a state other than Canada; (État étranger)model includes design, pattern and specimen; (modèle)munitions of war means arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war, military stores or any articles deemed capable of being converted thereinto or made useful in the production thereof; (munitions de guerre)offence under this Act includes any act, omission or other thing that is punishable under this Act; (infraction à la présente loi)office under Her Majesty includes any office or employment in or under any department or branch of the government of Canada or of any province, and any office or employment in, on or under any board, commission, corporation or other body that is an agent of Her Majesty in right of Canada or any province; (fonction relevant de Sa Majesté)prohibited place meansany work of defence belonging to or occupied or used by or on behalf of Her Majesty, including arsenals, armed forces establishments or stations, factories, dockyards, mines, minefields, camps, ships, aircraft, telegraph, telephone, wireless or signal stations or offices, and places used for the purpose of building, repairing, making or storing any munitions of war or any sketches, plans, models or documents relating thereto, or for the purpose of getting any metals, oil or minerals of use in time of war,any place not belonging to Her Majesty where any munitions of war or any sketches, plans, models or documents relating thereto are being made, repaired, obtained or stored under contract with, or with any person on behalf of, Her Majesty or otherwise on behalf of Her Majesty, andany place that is for the time being declared by order of the Governor in Council to be a prohibited place on the ground that information with respect thereto or damage thereto would be useful to a foreign power; (endroit prohibé)senior police officer[Repealed, 2001, c. 41, s. 26]sketch includes any mode of representing any place or thing; (croquis)terrorist activity has the same meaning as in subsection 83.01(1) of the Criminal Code; (activité terroriste)terrorist group has the same meaning as in subsection 83.01(1) of the Criminal Code. (groupe terroriste)Her MajestyIn this Act, any reference to Her Majesty means Her Majesty in right of Canada or any province.Communicating or receivingIn this Act,expressions referring to communicating or receiving include any communicating or receiving, whether in whole or in part, and whether the sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information itself or the substance, effect or description thereof only is communicated or received;expressions referring to obtaining or retaining any sketch, plan, model, article, note or document include the copying of, or causing to be copied, the whole or any part of any sketch, plan, model, article, note or document; andexpressions referring to the communication of any sketch, plan, model, article, note or document include the transfer or transmission of the sketch, plan, model, article, note or document.FacilitationFor greater certainty, subsection 83.01(2) of the Criminal Code applies for the purposes of the definitions terrorist activity and terrorist group in subsection (1).R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 2; 2001, c. 41, s. 26
Prejudice to the safety or interest of the StateFor the purposes of this Act, a purpose is prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State if a personcommits, in Canada, an offence against the laws of Canada or a province that is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of two years or more in order to advance a political, religious or ideological purpose, objective or cause or to benefit a foreign entity or terrorist group;commits, inside or outside Canada, a terrorist activity;causes or aggravates an urgent and critical situation in Canada thatendangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians, orthreatens the ability of the Government of Canada to preserve the sovereignty, security or territorial integrity of Canada;interferes with a service, facility, system or computer program, whether public or private, or its operation, in a manner that has significant adverse impact on the health, safety, security or economic or financial well-being of the people of Canada or the functioning of any government in Canada;endangers, outside Canada, any person by reason of that person’s relationship with Canada or a province or the fact that the person is doing business with or on behalf of the Government of Canada or of a province;damages property outside Canada because a person or entity with an interest in the property or occupying the property has a relationship with Canada or a province or is doing business with or on behalf of the Government of Canada or of a province;impairs or threatens the military capability of the Canadian Forces, or any part of the Canadian Forces;interferes with the design, development or production of any weapon or defence equipment of, or intended for, the Canadian Forces, including any hardware, software or system that is part of or associated with any such weapon or defence equipment;impairs or threatens the capabilities of the Government of Canada in relation to security and intelligence;adversely affects the stability of the Canadian economy, the financial system or any financial market in Canada without reasonable economic or financial justification;impairs or threatens the capability of a government in Canada, or of the Bank of Canada, to protect against, or respond to, economic or financial threats or instability;impairs or threatens the capability of the Government of Canada to conduct diplomatic or consular relations, or conduct and manage international negotiations;contrary to a treaty to which Canada is a party, develops or uses anything that is intended or has the capability to cause death or serious bodily injury to a significant number of people by means oftoxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors,a microbial or other biological agent, or a toxin, including a disease organism,radiation or radioactivity, oran explosion; ordoes or omits to do anything that is directed towards or in preparation of the undertaking of an activity mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (m).Harm to Canadian interestsFor the purposes of this Act, harm is caused to Canadian interests if a foreign entity or terrorist group does anything referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (n).R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 3; 2001, c. 41, s. 27
OffencesMiscellaneous Offences
Wrongful communication, etc., of informationEvery person is guilty of an offence under this Act who, having in his possession or control any secret official code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information that relates to or is used in a prohibited place or anything in a prohibited place, or that has been made or obtained in contravention of this Act, or that has been entrusted in confidence to him by any person holding office under Her Majesty, or that he has obtained or to which he has had access while subject to the Code of Service Discipline within the meaning of the National Defence Act or owing to his position as a person who holds or has held office under Her Majesty, or as a person who holds or has held a contract made on behalf of Her Majesty, or a contract the performance of which in whole or in part is carried out in a prohibited place, or as a person who is or has been employed under a person who holds or has held such an office or contract,communicates the code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information to any person, other than a person to whom he is authorized to communicate with, or a person to whom it is in the interest of the State his duty to communicate it;uses the information in his possession for the benefit of any foreign power or in any other manner prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State;retains the sketch, plan, model, article, note, or document in his possession or control when he has no right to retain it or when it is contrary to his duty to retain it or fails to comply with all directions issued by lawful authority with regard to the return or disposal thereof; orfails to take reasonable care of, or so conducts himself as to endanger the safety of, the secret official code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information.Communication of sketch, plan, model, etc.Every person is guilty of an offence under this Act who, having in his possession or control any sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information that relates to munitions of war, communicates it, directly or indirectly, to any foreign power, or in any other manner prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State.Receiving code word, sketch, etc.Every person who receives any secret official code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information, knowing, or having reasonable ground to believe, at the time he receives it, that the code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information is communicated to him in contravention of this Act, is guilty of an offence under this Act, unless he proves that the communication to him of the code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information was contrary to his desire.Retaining or allowing possession of document, etc.Every person is guilty of an offence under this Act whoretains for any purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State any official document, whether or not completed or issued for use, when he has no right to retain it, or when it is contrary to his duty to retain it, or fails to comply with any directions issued by any Government department or any person authorized by any Government department with regard to the return or disposal thereof; orallows any other person to have possession of any official document issued for his use alone, or communicates any secret official code word or password so issued, or, without lawful authority or excuse, has in his possession any official document or secret official code word or password issued for the use of a person other than himself, or on obtaining possession of any official document by finding or otherwise, neglects or fails to restore it to the person or authority by whom or for whose use it was issued, or to a police constable.R.S., c. O-3, s. 4
Unauthorized use of uniforms; falsification of reports, forgery, personation and false documentsEvery person is guilty of an offence under this Act who, for the purpose of gaining admission, or of assisting any other person to gain admission, to a prohibited place, or for any other purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State,uses or wears, without lawful authority, any military, police or other official uniform or any uniform so nearly resembling such a uniform as to be calculated to deceive, or falsely represents himself to be a person who is or has been entitled to use or wear any such uniform;orally or in writing in any declaration or application, or in any document signed by him or on his behalf, knowingly makes or connives at the making of any false statement or omission;forges, alters or tampers with any passport or any military, police or official pass, permit, certificate, licence or other document of a similar character, in this section referred to as an official document, or uses or has in his possession any such forged, altered or irregular official document;personates or falsely represents himself to be a person holding, or to be in the employment of a person holding, office under Her Majesty, or to be or not to be a person to whom an official document or secret official code word or password has been duly issued or communicated, or with intent to obtain an official document, secret official code word or password, whether for himself or any other person, knowingly makes any false statement; oruses, or has in his possession or under his control, without the authority of the Government department or the authority concerned, any die, seal or stamp of or belonging to, or used, made or provided by, any Government department, or by any diplomatic or military authority appointed by or acting under the authority of Her Majesty, or any die, seal or stamp so nearly resembling any such die, seal or stamp as to be calculated to deceive, or counterfeits any such die, seal or stamp, or uses, or has in his possession or under his control, any such counterfeited die, seal or stamp.Unlawful dealing with dies, seals, etc.Every person who, without lawful authority or excuse, manufactures or sells, or has in his possession for sale, any die, seal or stamp referred to in subsection (1) is guilty of an offence under this Act.R.S., c. O-3, s. 5
Approaching, entering, etc., a prohibited placeEvery person commits an offence who, for any purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State, approaches, inspects, passes over, is in the neighbourhood of or enters a prohibited place at the direction of, for the benefit of or in association with a foreign entity or a terrorist group.R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 6; 2001, c. 41, s. 29
InterferenceEvery person commits an offence who, in the vicinity of a prohibited place, obstructs, knowingly misleads or otherwise interferes with or impedes a peace officer or a member of Her Majesty’s forces engaged on guard, sentry, patrol or other similar duty in relation to the prohibited place.R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 7; 2001, c. 41, s. 29
Special Operational Information and Persons Permanently Bound to Secrecy
DefinitionsThe following definitions apply in this section and sections 9 to 15.department means a department named in Schedule I to the Financial Administration Act, a division or branch of the federal public administration set out in column I of Schedule I.1 to that Act and a corporation named in Schedule II to that Act. (ministère)government contractor means a person who has entered into a contract or arrangement with Her Majesty in right of Canada, a department, board or agency of the Government of Canada or a Crown corporation as defined in subsection 83(1) of the Financial Administration Act, and includes an employee of the person, a subcontractor of the person and an employee of the subcontractor. (partie à un contrat administratif)person permanently bound to secrecy meansa current or former member or employee of a department, division, branch or office of the federal public administration, or any of its parts, set out in Schedule 1;a current or former member of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency;a current or former member of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians;a current or former officer or non-commissioned member of a Canadian Forces unit or other element, or any of its parts, set out in Schedule 2 or a current or former officer or non-commissioned member who occupies or occupied a position in the Canadian Forces set out in that Schedule;a person who is or was appointed, attached, assigned or seconded to a Canadian Forces unit or other element, or any of its parts, set out in Schedule 2 or to a position in the Canadian Forces set out in that Schedule; ora person who has been personally served with a notice issued under subsection 10(1) in respect of the person or who has been informed, in accordance with regulations made under subsection 11(2), of the issuance of such a notice in respect of the person. (personne astreinte au secret à perpétuité)special operational information means information that the Government of Canada is taking measures to safeguard that reveals, or from which may be inferred,the identity of a person, agency, group, body or entity that was, is or is intended to be, has been approached to be, or has offered or agreed to be, a confidential source of information, intelligence or assistance to the Government of Canada;the nature or content of plans of the Government of Canada for military operations in respect of a potential, imminent or present armed conflict;the means that the Government of Canada used, uses or intends to use, or is capable of using, to covertly collect or obtain, or to decipher, assess, analyse, process, handle, report, communicate or otherwise deal with information or intelligence, including any vulnerabilities or limitations of those means;whether a place, person, agency, group, body or entity was, is or is intended to be the object of a covert investigation, or a covert collection of information or intelligence, by the Government of Canada;the identity of any person who is, has been or is intended to be covertly engaged in an information- or intelligence-collection activity or program of the Government of Canada that is covert in nature;the military vulnerabilities or advantages of the Canadian Forces, including the operational or technical vulnerabilities and advantages of any ally or adversary;the means that the Government of Canada used, uses or intends to use, or is capable of using, to protect or exploit any information or intelligence referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (e.1), including, but not limited to, encryption and cryptographic systems, and any vulnerabilities or limitations of those means; orinformation or intelligence similar in nature to information or intelligence referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (f) that is in relation to, or received from, a foreign entity or terrorist group. (renseignements opérationnels spéciaux)Deputy headFor the purposes of subsections 10(1) and 15(5), the deputy head isfor an individual employed in or attached or seconded to a department, the deputy head of the department;for an officer or a non-commissioned member of the Canadian Forces, the Chief of the Defence Staff;for a person who is a member of the exempt staff of a Minister responsible for a department, the deputy head of the department;for a government contractor in relation to a contract withthe Department of Public Works and Government Services, the deputy head of that department or any other deputy head authorized for the purpose by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services,any other department, the deputy head of that department, anda Crown Corporation within the meaning of subsection 83(1) of the Financial Administration Act, the deputy head of the department of the minister responsible for the Crown Corporation; andfor any other person, the Clerk of the Privy Council or a person authorized for the purpose by the Clerk of the Privy Council.R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 8; 2001, c. 41, s. 29; 2003, c. 22, s. 224(E); 2004, c. 12, s. 21(E); 2013, c. 9, s. 28(E); 2017, c. 15, s. 402019, c. 13, s. 352019, c. 13, s. 492024, c. 16, s. 51
Amending Schedule 1The Governor in Council may, by order, amend Schedule 1 by adding or deleting the name of any current or former department, division, branch or office of the federal public administration, or any of its parts, that, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, has or had a mandate that is primarily related to security and intelligence matters, or by modifying any name set out in the schedule.R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 9; 2001, c. 41, s. 29; 2003, c. 22, s. 224(E)2024, c. 16, s. 52
Amending Schedule 2The Governor in Council may, by order, amend Schedule 2 by adding, deleting or modifyingthe name of any current or former Canadian Forces unit or other element, or any of its parts, that, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, has or had a mandate that is primarily related to matters of security and intelligence or of national defence; ora reference to any current or former position in the Canadian Forces, the powers, duties and functions of which are or were, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, primarily related to matters of security and intelligence or of national defence.2024, c. 16, s. 52
Designation — persons permanently bound to secrecyThe deputy head in respect of a person may, by notice in writing, designate the person to be a person permanently bound to secrecy if the deputy head is of the opinion that, by reason of the person’s office, position, duties, contract or arrangement,the person had, has or will have authorized access to special operational information; andit is in the interest of national security to designate the person.ContentsThe notice mustspecify the name of the person in respect of whom it is issued;specify the office held, position occupied or duties performed by the person or the contract or arrangement in respect of which the person is a government contractor, as the case may be, that led to the designation; andstate that the person named in the notice is a person permanently bound to secrecy for the purposes of sections 13 and 14.ExceptionsThe following persons may not be designated as persons permanently bound to secrecy, but they continue as such if they were persons permanently bound to secrecy before becoming persons referred to in this subsection:the Governor General;the lieutenant governor of a province;a judge receiving a salary under the Judges Act; anda military judge within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the National Defence Act.R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 10; 2001, c. 41, s. 29
ServiceSubject to subsection (2), a person in respect of whom a notice is issued under subsection 10(1) is a person permanently bound to secrecy as of the moment the person is personally served with the notice or informed of the notice in accordance with the regulations.RegulationsThe Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the personal service of notices issued under subsection 10(1) and regulations respecting personal notification of the issuance of a notice under that subsection when personal service is not practical.R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 11; 2001, c. 41, s. 29
CertificateSubject to subsection (2), a certificate purporting to have been issued by or under the authority of a Minister of the Crown in right of Canada stating that a person is a person permanently bound to secrecy shall be received and is admissible in evidence in any proceedings for an offence under section 13 or 14, without proof of the signature or authority of the Minister appearing to have signed it, and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, is proof of the fact so stated.Disclosure of certificateThe certificate may be received in evidence only if the party intending to produce it has, before the trial, served on the party against whom it is intended to be produced reasonable notice of that intention, together with a duplicate of the certificate.R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 12; 2001, c. 41, s. 29
Purported communicationEvery person permanently bound to secrecy commits an offence who, intentionally and without authority, communicates or confirms information that, if it were true, would be special operational information.Truthfulness of informationFor the purpose of subsection (1), it is not relevant whether the information to which the offence relates is true.PunishmentEvery person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years less a day.R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 13; 2001, c. 41, s. 29
Unauthorized communication of special operational informationEvery person permanently bound to secrecy commits an offence who, intentionally and without authority, communicates or confirms special operational information.PunishmentEvery person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 14 years.R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 14; 2001, c. 41, s. 29
Public interest defenceNo person is guilty of an offence under section 13 or 14 if the person establishes that he or she acted in the public interest.Acting in the public interestSubject to subsection (4), a person acts in the public interest ifthe person acts for the purpose of disclosing an offence under an Act of Parliament that he or she reasonably believes has been, is being or is about to be committed by another person in the purported performance of that person’s duties and functions for, or on behalf of, the Government of Canada; andthe public interest in the disclosure outweighs the public interest in non-disclosure.Paragraph (2)(a) to be considered firstIn determining whether a person acts in the public interest, a judge or court shall determine whether the condition in paragraph (2)(a) is satisfied before considering paragraph (2)(b).Factors to be consideredIn deciding whether the public interest in the disclosure outweighs the public interest in non-disclosure, a judge or court must considerwhether the extent of the disclosure is no more than is reasonably necessary to disclose the alleged offence or prevent the commission or continuation of the alleged offence, as the case may be;the seriousness of the alleged offence;whether the person resorted to other reasonably accessible alternatives before making the disclosure and, in doing so, whether the person complied with any relevant guidelines, policies or laws that applied to the person;whether the person had reasonable grounds to believe that the disclosure would be in the public interest;the public interest intended to be served by the disclosure;the extent of the harm or risk of harm created by the disclosure; andthe existence of exigent circumstances justifying the disclosure.Prior disclosure to authorities necessaryA judge or court may decide whether the public interest in the disclosure outweighs the public interest in non-disclosure only if the person has complied with the following:the person has, before communicating or confirming the information, brought his or her concern to, and provided all relevant information in his or her possession to, his or her deputy head or, if not reasonably practical in the circumstances, the Deputy Attorney General of Canada; andthe person has, if he or she has not received a response from the deputy head or the Deputy Attorney General of Canada, as the case may be, within a reasonable time, brought his or her concern to and provided all relevant information in the person’s possession to the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency, if the person’s concern relates to an alleged offence that has been, is being or is about to be committed by another person in the purported performance of that person’s duties and functions of service for, or on behalf of, the Government of Canada and he or she has not received a response from that Agency within a reasonable time.Exigent circumstancesSubsection (5) does not apply if the communication or confirmation of the information was necessary to avoid grievous bodily harm or death.R.S., 1985, c. O-5, s. 15; 1992, c. 47, s. 80; 2001, c. 41, s. 292019, c. 13, s. 36
Communications with Foreign Entities or Terrorist Groups
Communicating safeguarded informationEvery person commits an offence who, without lawful authority, communicates to a foreign entity or to a terrorist group information that the Government of Canada or of a province is taking measures to safeguard ifthe person believes, or is reckless as to whether, the information is information that the Government of Canada or of a province is taking measures to safeguard; andthe person intends, by communicating the information, to increase the capacity of a foreign entity or a terrorist group to harm Canadian interests or is reckless as to whether the communication of the information is likely to increase the capacity of a foreign entity or a terrorist group to harm Canadian interests.Communicating safeguarded informationEvery person commits an offence who, intentionally and without lawful authority, communicates to a foreign entity or to a terrorist group information that the Government of Canada or of a province is taking measures to safeguard ifthe person believes, or is reckless as to whether, the information is information that the Government of Canada or of a province is taking measures to safeguard; andharm to Canadian interests results.PunishmentEvery person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for life.2001, c. 41, s. 29
Communicating special operational informationEvery person commits an offence who, intentionally and without lawful authority, communicates special operational information to a foreign entity or to a terrorist group if the person believes, or is reckless as to whether, the information is special operational information.PunishmentEvery person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for life.2001, c. 41, s. 29
Breach of trust in respect of safeguarded informationEvery person with a security clearance given by the Government of Canada commits an offence who, intentionally and without lawful authority, communicates, or agrees to communicate, to a foreign entity or to a terrorist group any information that is of a type that the Government of Canada is taking measures to safeguard.PunishmentEvery person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years.2001, c. 41, s. 29
Economic Espionage
Use of trade secret for the benefit of foreign economic entityEvery person commits an offence who, at the direction of, for the benefit of or in association with a foreign economic entity, fraudulently and without colour of right and to the detriment of Canada’s economic interests, international relations or national defence or national securitycommunicates a trade secret to another person, group or organization; orobtains, retains, alters or destroys a trade secret.PunishmentEvery person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years.DefenceA person is not guilty of an offence under subsection (1) if the trade secret wasobtained by independent development or by reason only of reverse engineering; oracquired in the course of the person’s work and is of such a character that its acquisition amounts to no more than an enhancement of that person’s personal knowledge, skill or expertise.Meaning of trade secretFor the purpose of this section, trade secret means any information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, method, technique, process, negotiation position or strategy or any information contained or embodied in a product, device or mechanism thatis or may be used in a trade or business;is not generally known in that trade or business;has economic value from not being generally known; andis the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.2001, c. 41, s. 29
Foreign-influenced or Terrorist-influenced Intimidation, Threats or Violence
Intimidation, threats or violenceEvery person commits an offence who, at the direction of, for the benefit of or in association with, a foreign entity or a terrorist group, induces or attempts to induce, by intimidation, threat or violence, any person to do anything or to cause anything to be done.Extraterritorial applicationDespite subsection 26(1), a person who commits an act referred to in subsection (1) while outside Canada is deemed to have committed it in Canada ifthe victim is in Canada; orthe victim is outside Canada andthe person or the victim or both area Canadian citizen,a person who is ordinarily resident in Canada,a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act,a person who owes allegiance to His Majesty in right of Canada, ora person who is locally engaged and who performs their functions in a Canadian mission outside Canada, oris a person described in any of clauses (i)(A) to (E), the intimidation, threat or violence is in relation to the victim’s child, relative or intimate partner, as defined in section 2 of the Criminal Code, and the child, relative or partner is in or outside Canada.PunishmentEvery person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for life.Sentences to be served consecutivelyA sentence, other than one of life imprisonment, imposed on a person for an offence under subsection (1) is to be served consecutively toany other sentence imposed on the person, other than one of life imprisonment, for an offence arising out of the same event or series of events; andany other sentence, other than one of life imprisonment, to which the person is subject at the time the sentence is imposed on the person for an offence under subsection (1).Application — subsections 26(2) to (4)If a person is deemed under this section to have committed an act referred to in subsection (1) in Canada, subsections 26(2) to (4) apply, with any adaptations that may be necessary, to any proceedings in respect of an offence under subsection (1).Definition of victimFor greater certainty, in this section, victim means the person who the person who commits, or is alleged to have committed, the offence under subsection (1) induces or attempts to induce, or is alleged to have induced or attempted to induce, to do anything or to cause anything to be done.2001, c. 41, s. 292024, c. 16, s. 53
Intimidation, threats or violence outside CanadaEvery person commits an offence who, while outside Canada, at the direction of, for the benefit of or in association with, a foreign entity or a terrorist group, induces or attempts to induce, by intimidation, threat or violence, any person outside Canada to do anything or to cause anything to be donethat is for the purpose of increasing the capacity of a foreign entity or a terrorist group to harm Canadian interests; orthat is reasonably likely to harm Canadian interests.ApplicationIf any of the facts referred to in paragraph 20(2)(b) apply to either the person who is alleged to have committed an act referred to in subsection (1) or the victim, the person who is alleged to have committed the act is to be prosecuted under subsection 20(1).PunishmentEvery person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for life.Sentences to be served consecutivelyA sentence, other than one of life imprisonment, imposed on a person for an offence under subsection (1) is to be served consecutively toany other sentence imposed on the person, other than one of life imprisonment, for an offence arising out of the same event or series of events; andany other sentence, other than one of life imprisonment, to which the person is subject at the time the sentence is imposed on the person for an offence under subsection (1).Application — subsections 26(2) to (4)Subsections 26(2) to (4) apply, with any adaptations that may be necessary, to any proceedings in respect of an offence under subsection (1).Definition of victimFor greater certainty, in this section, victim means the person who the person who commits, or is alleged to have committed, the offence under subsection (1) induces or attempts to induce, or is alleged to have induced or attempted to induce, to do anything or to cause anything to be done.2024, c. 16, s. 53
Indictable Offence Committed for a Foreign Entity
Committing indictable offence for foreign entityEvery person who commits an indictable offence under this or any other Act of Parliament at the direction of, for the benefit of or in association with, a foreign entity is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for life.Sentences to be served consecutivelyA sentence, other than one of life imprisonment, imposed on a person for an offence under subsection (1) is to be served consecutively toany other sentence imposed on the person, other than one of life imprisonment, for an offence arising out of the same event or series of events; andany other sentence, other than one of life imprisonment, to which the person is subject at the time the sentence is imposed on the person for an offence under subsection (1).2024, c. 16, s. 53
Conduct or Omission for a Foreign Entity
Engaging in surreptitious or deceptive conductEvery person commits an indictable offence who, at the direction of, for the benefit of or in association with, a foreign entity, knowingly engages in surreptitious or deceptive conduct or omits, surreptitiously or with the intent to deceive, to do anything if the person’s conduct or omission is for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State or the person is reckless as to whether their conduct or omission is likely to harm Canadian interests.PunishmentEvery person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable to imprisonment for life.Sentences to be served consecutivelyA sentence, other than one of life imprisonment, imposed on a person for an offence under subsection (1) is to be served consecutively toany other sentence imposed on the person, other than one of life imprisonment, for an offence arising out of the same event or series of events; andany other sentence, other than one of life imprisonment, to which the person is subject at the time the sentence is imposed on the person for an offence under subsection (1).2024, c. 16, s. 53
Political Interference for a Foreign Entity
Influencing political or governmental processEvery person commits an indictable offence who, at the direction of, or in association with, a foreign entity, engages in surreptitious or deceptive conduct with the intent to influence a political or governmental process, educational governance, the performance of a duty in relation to such a process or such governance or the exercise of a democratic right in Canada.PunishmentEvery person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable to imprisonment for life.Sentences to be served consecutivelyA sentence, other than one of life imprisonment, imposed on a person for an offence under subsection (1) is to be served consecutively toany other sentence imposed on the person, other than one of life imprisonment, for an offence arising out of the same event or series of events; andany other sentence, other than one of life imprisonment, to which the person is subject at the time the sentence is imposed on the person for an offence under subsection (1).DefinitionsThe following definitions apply in this section.educational governance means the governance of a school board or primary or secondary school, college, university or other institution of higher learning or training institution in Canada. (gouvernance scolaire)political or governmental process includesany proceeding of a legislative body;the development of a legislative proposal;the development or amendment of any policy or program;the making of a decision by a public office holder or government body, including the awarding of a contract;the holding of an election or referendum; andthe nomination of a candidate or the development of an electoral platform by a political party. (processus politique ou gouvernemental)public office holder means any of the following individuals:any officer or employee of His Majesty in right of Canada and includesa member of the Senate or the House of Commons and any person on the staff of such a member,a person who is appointed to any office or body by or with the approval of the Governor in Council or a minister of the Crown, other than a judge receiving a salary under the Judges Act or the lieutenant governor of a province,an officer, director or employee of any federal board, commission or other tribunal, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Federal Courts Act,a member of the Canadian Forces, anda member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police;members of the legislature of a province or persons on the staff of such members;employees of the government of a province;members of a council or other statutory body charged with the administration of the civil or municipal affairs of a city, town, municipality or district, persons on the staff of such members or officers or employees of a city, town, municipality or district;members of the council of a band, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Indian Act, or of the council of an Indian band established by an Act of Parliament, persons on their staff or employees of such a council;members of an aboriginal government or institution that exercises jurisdiction or authority under a self-government agreement, or under self-government provisions contained in a land claims agreement, given effect by or under an Act of Parliament, persons on the staff of those members or employees of that government or institution;an officer or employee of an entity that represents the interests of First Nations, the Inuit or the Métis. (titulaire d’une charge publique)ApplicationThis section applies to any of the following political or governmental processes in Canada:federal political or governmental processes;provincial or territorial political or governmental processes;municipal political or governmental processes;the political or governmental processes ofa council, government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, orany other entity that represents the interests of First Nations, the Inuit or the Métis.2024, c. 16, s. 53
Harbouring or Concealing
Concealing person who carried out offenceEvery person who, for the purpose of enabling or facilitating an offence under this Act, knowingly harbours or conceals a person whom they know to be a person who has committed an offence under this Act, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonmentfor a term of not more than 14 years, if the person who is harboured or concealed committed an offence under this Act for which that person is liable to imprisonment for life; andfor a term of not more than 10 years, if the person who is harboured or concealed committed an offence under this Act for which that person is liable to any other punishment.Concealing person who is likely to carry out offenceEvery person who, for the purpose of enabling or facilitating an offence under this Act, knowingly harbours or conceals any person whom he or she knows to be a person who is likely to carry out an offence under this Act, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years.2001, c. 41, s. 29; 2013, c. 9, s. 29
Preparatory Acts
Preparatory actsEvery person commits an offence who, for the purpose of committing an offence under this Act, other than under subsection 13(1) or 18(1), does anything that is directed towards or done in preparation of the commission of the offence, includingentering Canada at the direction of or for the benefit of a foreign entity, a terrorist group or a foreign economic entity;obtaining, retaining or gaining access to any information;knowingly communicating to a foreign entity, a terrorist group or a foreign economic entity the person’s willingness to commit the offence;at the direction of, for the benefit of or in association with a foreign entity, a terrorist group or a foreign economic entity, asking a person to commit the offence; andpossessing any device, apparatus or software useful for concealing the content of information or for surreptitiously communicating, obtaining or retaining information.PunishmentEvery person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years.2001, c. 41, s. 292024, c. 16, s. 54
Conspiracy, Attempts, Etc.
Conspiracy, attempts, etc.Every person commits an offence who conspires or attempts to commit, is an accessory after the fact in relation to or counsels in relation to an offence under this Act and is liable to the same punishment and to be proceeded against in the same manner as if he or she had committed the offence.2001, c. 41, s. 29
General
Attorney General’s consentNo prosecution shall be commenced for an offence against this Act without the consent of the Attorney General.2001, c. 41, s. 29
JurisdictionAn offence against this Act may be tried, in any place in Canada, regardless of where in Canada the offence was committed.2001, c. 41, s. 29
Extraterritorial applicationA person who commits an act or omission outside Canada that would be an offence against this Act if it were committed in Canada is deemed to have committed it in Canada if the person isa Canadian citizen;a person who owes allegiance to Her Majesty in right of Canada;a person who is locally engaged and who performs his or her functions in a Canadian mission outside Canada; ora person who, after the time the offence is alleged to have been committed, is present in Canada.JurisdictionIf a person is deemed to have committed an act or omission in Canada, proceedings in respect of the offence may, whether or not the person is in Canada, be commenced in any territorial division in Canada, and the person may be tried and punished in respect of the offence in the same manner as if the offence had been committed in that territorial division.Appearance of accused at trialFor greater certainty, the provisions of the Criminal Code relating to requirements that a person appear at and be present during proceedings and the exceptions to those requirements apply in respect of proceedings commenced in a territorial division under subsection (2).Person previously tried outside CanadaIf a person is alleged to have committed an act or omission that is an offence by virtue of this section and the person has been tried and dealt with outside Canada in respect of the offence in a manner such that, if the person had been tried and dealt with in Canada, the person would be able to plead autrefois acquit, autrefois convict or pardon, the person shall be deemed to have been so tried and dealt with in Canada.2001, c. 41, s. 29
PunishmentUnless this Act provides otherwise, a person who commits an offence under this Act is guilty ofan indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 14 years; oran offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 12 months or to a fine of not more than $2,000, or to both.2001, c. 41, s. 29
[Repealed, 2001, c. 41, s. 130]
(Subsection 8(1) and section 9)Canadian Security Intelligence ServiceService canadien du renseignement de sécuritéCanadian Security Intelligence Service Legal Services Unit of the Department of JusticeUnité des services juridiques du Service canadien du renseignement de sécurité du ministère de la JusticeCivilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceCommission civile d’examen et de traitement des plaintes relatives à la Gendarmerie royale du CanadaCommission of Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Maher Arar Commission d’enquête sur les actions des responsables canadiens relativement à Maher ArarCommission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182Commission d’enquête relative aux mesures d’investigation prises à la suite de l’attentat à la bombe commis contre le vol 182 d’Air IndiaCommunications Branch of the National Research Council (as that Branch existed before April 1, 1975, when control and supervision of the Branch was transferred to the Department of National Defence)Direction des télécommunications du Conseil national de recherches (telle que la direction existait avant le 1er avril 1975, date du transfert de ses responsabilités au ministère de la Défense nationale)Communications Security EstablishmentCentre de la sécurité des télécommunicationsCommunications Security Establishment Legal Services Unit of the Department of JusticeUnité des services juridiques du Centre de la sécurité des télécommunications du ministère de la JusticeCriminal Intelligence Program of the R.C.M.P.Programme des renseignements criminels de la GRCForeign and Defence Policy Secretariat of the Privy Council OfficeSecrétariat de la politique étrangère et de la défense du Bureau du Conseil privéIntelligence Assessment Secretariat of the Privy Council OfficeSecrétariat de l’évaluation du renseignement du Bureau du Conseil privéInternal Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-Elmaati and Muayyed NureddinEnquête interne sur les actions des responsables canadiens relativement à Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-Elmaati et Muayyed NureddinInternational Assessment Staff of the Privy Council OfficeBureau de l’évaluation internationale du Bureau du Conseil privéNational Security and Intelligence Review Agency SecretariatSecrétariat de l’Office de surveillance des activités en matière de sécurité nationale et de renseignementNational Security Group of the Department of JusticeGroupe sur la sécurité nationale du ministère de la JusticeNational Security Litigation and Advisory Group of the Department of JusticeGroupe litiges et conseils en sécurité nationale du ministère de la JusticeNational Security Program of the R.C.M.P.Programme de sécurité nationale de la GRCOffice of the Communications Security Establishment CommissionerBureau du commissaire du Centre de la sécurité des télécommunicationsOffice of the Inspector General of the Canadian Security Intelligence ServiceBureau de l’inspecteur général du Service canadien du renseignement de sécuritéOffice of the Intelligence CommissionerBureau du commissaire au renseignementOffice of the National Security Advisor to the Prime MinisterBureau du conseiller en matière de sécurité nationale auprès du premier ministreOffice of the Security and Intelligence Coordinator of the Privy Council OfficeBureau du coordonnateur de la sécurité et du renseignement du Bureau du Conseil privéPublic Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic InstitutionsEnquête publique sur l’ingérence étrangère dans les processus électoraux et les institutions démocratiques fédérauxR.C.M.P. Security ServiceService de sécurité de la GRCSecretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of ParliamentariansSecrétariat du Comité des parlementaires sur la sécurité nationale et le renseignementSecurity and Intelligence Secretariat of the Privy Council OfficeSecrétariat de la sécurité et du renseignement du Bureau du Conseil privéSecurity Intelligence Review CommitteeComité de surveillance des activités de renseignement de sécuritéTechnical Operations Program of the R.C.M.P., excluding the Air Services Branch Programme des opérations techniques de la GRC, à l’exclusion de la Sous-direction du service de l’air2001, c. 41, s. 30; SOR/2004-20; SOR/2006-81, 336; 2012, c. 19, s. 386; 2013, c. 18, s. 54; SOR/2014-35; 2017, c. 15, s. 412019, c. 13, s. 372019, c. 13, s. 70SOR/2023-204, s. 12024, c. 16, s. 55(Subsection 8(1) and section 9.1)2024, c. 16, s. 56RELATED PROVISIONS — 2019, c. 13, par. 82(1)(d), as amended by 2024, c. 16, s. 59
ReferencesA reference to the former department in any of the following is deemed to be a reference to the new department:Schedule 1 to the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act;
 — 2024, c. 16, ss. 57(2), (4)
Other references — ActsUnless the context requires otherwise, every reference to the “Security of Information Act” in any provision of an Act of Parliament, other than a provision referred to in subsection (1), is to be read as a reference to the “Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act”.Other references — RegulationsUnless the context requires otherwise, every reference to the “Security of Information Act” in any provision of a regulation, as defined in section 2 of the Statutory Instruments Act, made under an Act of Parliament, other than a provision referred to in subsection (3), is to be read as a reference to the “Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act”.
AMENDMENTS NOT IN FORCE — 2024, c. 25, s. 125
Schedule 1 to the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act is amended by striking out the following:Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceCommission civile d’examen et de traitement des plaintes relatives à la Gendarmerie royale du Canada2024, c. 16. s. 74
 — 2024, c. 25, s. 126
Schedule 1 to the Act is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:Public Complaints and Review CommissionCommission d’examen et de traitement des plaintes du public2024, c. 16. s. 74
2024, c. 162024-08-19SOR/2023-2042023-10-062019, c. 132019-07-12