Inquiry Added to Security of Information Act

Summary#

This is the Order Amending the Schedule to the Security of Information Act (SOR/2023-204). It adds the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions to the list in the Security of Information Act. The order was registered on October 6, 2023 and published in the Canada Gazette on October 11, 2023.

What it does#

• Adds the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions (English and French titles) to the Schedule of the Security of Information Act.
• The government says the inquiry’s mandate is “primarily related to security and intelligence matters.”
• The order states it “comes into force on the day on which it is registered.” The registration date shown is October 6, 2023.

Who's affected#

• The most directly named party is the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions itself.
• Other groups that could notice this change include people who work on the inquiry, witnesses, and government departments that handle security or intelligence information.
• The notice does not explain exactly what practical legal or administrative effects this listing will have, so it is unclear who else might be affected and how.

Why it matters#

• Being added to the Schedule signals the government’s view that the inquiry deals mainly with security and intelligence issues.
• That label could influence how information related to the inquiry is treated, shared, or protected, though the Gazette notice does not spell out any specific changes to rules or access.
• For the public, this is a formal step linking the inquiry to national security considerations rather than a detailed change in policy or procedure.