UCC President addresses threat of Russian interference, disinformation

October 3, 2024. OTTAWA, ON. Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) visited Ottawa on October 1-2 to address the threat of Russian interference and disinformation in Canada’s democracy.

“The Ukrainian Canadian community has been the target of Soviet and now Russian disinformation for many decades,” stated Chyczij. “The Canadian government has not acted forcefully enough to counter these persistent, insidious and destabilizing Russian attacks on our community or Canadian democratic institutions.”

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) is holding hearings in the wake of revelations in an unsealed US federal indictment  which revealed that Canadian companies and individuals are involved in a Russian disinformation influence conspiracy run by RT employees.

Testifying at the SECU Committee, Chyczij presented the Ukrainian Canadian community’s recommendations on actions the Canadian government needs to take to respond to Russia’s interference and disinformation campaigns in Canada.

Chyczij’s opening statement to the SECU Committee can be viewed below:

The full hearing is available here:

SECU Hearing – Russian Interference and Disinformation Campaigns in Canada

The UCC’s recommendations to the Government of Canada on countering Russia’s attacks on Canadian democracy are as follows:

1. Review Canada’s foreign policy direction in relation to Russia and refresh the roster of advisers and staff at Global Affairs Canada with those who understand contemporary Russia and the threat it poses to Canadian democratic institutions.
2. Expel Russian so-called diplomats from Canada. Canada is the only NATO country that has not expelled a single Russian diplomat since February 2022. Over 600 have been expelled from other NATO or EU states.
3. Complete the ban on Russian state media not just from cable television, but from internet browsers/providers and social media apps.
4. Investigate how the Canada Media Fund, TVO, the BC Knowledge Network, the Toronto International Film Festival and other publicly funded institutions – received taxpayer money for the production, promotion and screening of the Russian propaganda film Russians At War and ensure that this does not happen in future.
5. Streamline the Foreign Agents Registry, with particular attention to Foreign Agents acting for Canada’s adversaries and increase penalties for violators.
6. Establish federal and provincial beneficial ownership registries.
7. Establish programs, like those in Finland, Denmark and Norway where critical thinking and media literacy are taught from kindergarten.
8. Take action to expose and counter Russian disinformation and communicate to Canadians what that action plan is, so that Canadians are not only aware, but are reassured that action is being taken.

On October 2, Chyczij testified at the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, where the UCC has standing to represent the Ukrainian Canadian community.

Chyczij’s testimony at the Foreign Interference Inquiry begins at 5:10:38 here: