Loopholes in election financing rules could allow money from foreign countries to influence Canadian elections, the chief electoral officer told the inquiry probing foreign interference Tuesday.

Stéphane Perrault noted that, under the law, only citizens and permanent residents are allowed to donate to a party or candidate and that those donations are supposed to be made from personal funds. Foreign nationals, groups and governments aren't allowed to donate.

However, Perrault said that can be hard to police and no system is airtight.

Elections Canada audits candidate filings and publishes the names of those who contribute more than $200, he said, and that someone outside Canada would have to use proxies to funnel money to a candidate.

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