Article – The brother of NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has entered the diplomatic fray surrounding allegations of foreign interference, demanding that Canadian authorities provide protection to citizens who have been warned about threats to their lives.
Gurratan Singh, a former Ontario MPP, spoke out after reports that Canadians who received security briefings about potential risks to their safety have been left without concrete protection measures. “When CSIS warns a Canadian that they are at risk of being harmed or killed by a foreign entity, it’s completely unacceptable for our government to not offer them protection,” he stated in a social media post.
His comments follow increasing concerns about Canada’s response to foreign interference threats. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has been informing some Canadians about risks to their personal safety from foreign governments, but critics allege these warnings often come without accompanying security assistance.
A recent investigation by The Canadian Press revealed that several individuals who received CSIS briefings about threats to their safety were left to navigate security concerns largely on their own. One community activist described being told they were on a “hit list” yet received minimal guidance beyond suggestions to vary their routine and remain vigilant.
“Imagine being told your life is at risk and then being left to fend for yourself,” said Carmen Cheung, executive director at the BC Civil Liberties Association. “This creates a chilling effect on democratic participation, especially for diaspora communities who may already feel vulnerable.”
The controversy touches on Canada’s broader struggle to address foreign interference. Last year, the federal government appointed former Governor General David Johnston as special rapporteur to investigate allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections. Johnston’s initial report concluded that while interference attempts occurred, they did not significantly impact electoral outcomes.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc has defended the government’s approach, stating that security agencies make protection decisions based on “thorough threat assessments.” However, he acknowledged in a House committee meeting that the system might require “enhanced coordination” between law enforcement agencies.
For diaspora communities, particularly those with connections to countries with authoritarian governments, these security gaps create real-world consequences. Cheema Singh, a human rights advocate who works with Sikh activists, told me the government’s response has been woefully inadequate.
“People are receiving these warnings and then basically being told ‘good luck,'” Singh explained during our interview at a community center in Brampton. “The psychological impact alone is devastating – people stop speaking out, they withdraw from community organizing, exactly what foreign governments want.”
The RCMP has established a Foreign Interference Investigative Team, but critics argue its mandate remains unclear and its resources insufficient. Internal documents obtained through access to information requests show the unit processed over 100 cases last year but resulted in remarkably few prosecutions.
“There’s a fundamental gap between identifying threats and actually protecting Canadians,” said Stephanie Carvin, national security expert and professor at Carleton University. “CSIS’s mandate allows them to collect intelligence and issue warnings, but they lack protective capabilities. The RCMP has those capabilities but faces resource constraints and jurisdictional complexities.”
The government has promised a public inquiry into foreign interference, which will include examining the effectiveness of Canada’s security response systems. Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, appointed to lead the inquiry, is expected to deliver an interim report by May 3, with final findings due by December.
For Gurratan Singh and others advocating for stronger protections, these timelines offer little comfort to those currently facing threats. “When we tell Canadians their lives are at risk, we have an obligation to protect them,” he emphasized in a follow-up statement to the National Post.
This situation highlights the evolving nature of national security threats in Canada. Traditional approaches focused on counterterrorism and espionage have been slow to adapt to the reality of transnational repression – where foreign governments target diaspora communities and critics abroad.
“What we’re witnessing is a protection gap,” said Wesley Wark, senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. “Our security architecture was designed for a different era and hasn’t kept pace with how foreign states project power and threaten individuals on Canadian soil.”
As the government continues to develop its response, affected communities remain caught between acknowledgment of threats and meaningful protection. The coming months will test whether Canada can bridge this critical security gap before more people are forced into silence – or worse.
