The recent federal election in the spring witnessed a surge in misinformation and disinformation attempts aimed at disrupting Canada’s democratic process. However, Elections Canada stated that these efforts did not influence the outcome of the 45th general election. Neither the agency nor the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force found any evidence of foreign interference, criminal activity, cyber security incidents, or coordinated disinformation campaigns affecting the election administration.
Elections Canada emphasized its proactive measures to uphold electoral integrity by actively identifying and countering false and misleading information through official communication channels. During this election, Elections Canada increased its social media presence by delivering 1,531 messages across platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, compared to 1,059 messages in the previous election.
Additionally, Elections Canada released 26 videos focusing on election integrity and six videos providing guidance on voting procedures. By dispelling inaccurate information, enhancing transparency, and expanding its digital reach, the agency facilitated a more informed public discourse on the electoral process, enabling Canadians to access reliable information for confident participation.
The estimated cost of the recent federal election totaled $570 million, slightly lower than the $574.2 million spent on the 44th General Election.
Regarding security incidents, Elections Canada reported 44 incidents during the 45th federal election, with 29 requiring police intervention. Among these, three events were classified as physical assaults involving altercations such as shoving and punching. The remaining 23 incidents encompassed disruptive or threatening behaviors related to voter identification requirements and tampering with election materials, a decrease from the previous election’s 102 reported incidents.
Furthermore, emergency responses were activated due to flooding in Kashechewan and health facility contamination in Neskantaga, Ontario. Evacuated individuals were facilitated to cast their votes at special polling stations in their temporary locations, while those who remained in their communities could vote at local polling stations as usual.