Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne, centre, looks as Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford, left, and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath shake hands at the Ontario Leaders debate in Toronto on Monday, May 7, 2018. This is the first of three debates scheduled before the June 7 vote. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Elections Ontario says it will be looking for cases of foreign interference during the province’s four-week election campaign.

While he will watch for foreign interference closely, Ontario’s Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa told reporters on Wednesday that none has been found.

The election campaign officially started Wednesday. Voters will elect their next government on June 7.

Premier Kathleen Wynne is running against Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner.

Allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election have catapulted the issue into the spotlight. Essensa said in the U.S. the attacks appeared to be directed at political parties rather than the administration of the election itself.

Russian interference in Canada’s democracy was among the reasons cited by the Trudeau government when it expelled four Russian diplomats last month.

“It’s an issue that clearly I have to be cognizant of and watching,” Essensa said.

Interference in next year’s federal election is already expected according to a NATO researcher. Similar attempts were made in Germany, France, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.

Last week, Ottawa introduced legislation to limit foreign involvement in federal elections. But provincially, Essensa said foreign interference falls into a “grey area” in the legislation.

He said Elections Ontario constantly monitors anything that might have an “adverse impact” on the electoral process.

“I suspect you’ll see after the election that there will be further debate and further discussions” about foreign interference Essensa said. The elections watchdog said he will “likely” release commentary or recommendations on foreign interference after the election.

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