Groups representing minorities say they're alarmed by foreign interference legislation

Groups representing minority communities are warning that a recently introduced law giving Canada's intelligence agency and the federal government new powers to counter foreign interference is open to abuse.

Bill C-70 received royal assent on June 20.

The law introduces new criminal provisions against «deceptive or surreptitious acts» done «for the benefit of or in association with, a foreign entity,» to prejudice Canadian interests or with the «intent to influence… the exercise of a democratic right in Canada.»

It also allows for broader sharing of sensitive information among national security agencies, and establishes a foreign influence transparency registry.

C-70 amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to allow the Immigration Minister to ask the courts for the detention and removal of a permanent resident or other non-Canadian citizen if their actions are deemed injurious to «international relations.»

IRPA previously provided the minister with that same authority, but only in cases where someone was inadmissible to Canada on grounds of security, human or international rights violations, or criminality.

That section is alarming the National Council of Canadian Muslims and the World Sikh Organization of Canada.

Nusaiba Al-Azem, director of legal affairs at the NCCM, told CBC News the organization is troubled by «the vagueness of the international relations piece.»

The WSO's legal counsel, Balpreet Singh, agreed.

«International relations is the reason that four decades of Indian interference targeting Sikhs in Canada has gone completely unknown in the mainstream,» he said.

«Canada has on many occasions ignored Indian operations targeting Sikhs in order to preserve trade relations and trade talks with India.