Category: Foreign Election Interference

Feds ‘Not There Yet’ on Launching Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference, Says Minister

The federal government remains undecided on its proposed process for launching some form of a public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in elections, with Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc saying cabinet is “not there yet” and needs to hold further talks on the matter with opposition party leaders. “We have made significant progress,” Mr….


Trudeau Accuses Tories of Blocking Cross-Party Consensus on Foreign Interference Inquiry

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing the federal Conservative Party of blocking cross-party consensus on establishing a process for a potential public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada’s elections. Mr. Trudeau told reporters in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., on July 5 that the government and opposition parties need to reach an agreement on both the structure of a potential…


Elections Commissioner’s Office Dismissed 116 Complaints Alleging Foreign Interference: Report

The Office of Elections Commissioner Caroline Simard dismissed 116 complaints of alleged foreign interference in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 general elections without initiating any relevant prosecution, according to an internal briefing note. “Foreign components in investigations almost always give rise to delays, complexities and other challenges,” wrote the commissioner’s office in a briefing note dated…


Parliament Adjourns for the Summer 2 Days Early, Ending Spring Sitting

All parties agreed on June 21 to adjourn the House of Commons for the summer two days earlier than scheduled despite the Liberal government not yet having established a public inquiry into foreign election interference allegations. Both Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre and Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet had called on the government to establish an…


Feds Introduce Measures to Protect Against Potential Foreign Interference in Upcoming Byelections

The federal government has introduced new measures to protect against potential foreign interference in several byelections being held between June 19 and June 24, according to Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc. Voters will head to the polls on June 19 for byelections in the Quebec riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount, the riding of Oxford in southern Ontario, the…


CSIS Memo on Beijing Targeting of MPs Was Sent to Wrong Office, Says Blair

Former public safety minister Bill Blair says that a secret memo prepared by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to inform the federal government of Beijing’s targeting of Conservative MP Michael Chong never reached him at the time because it was sent to the wrong office. “Just to be very clear, CSIS did not brief me…


IN-DEPTH: What Happens Now That Johnston Has Stepped Down as Special Rapporteur?

With David Johnston having stepped down from his role as special rapporteur on foreign election interference, talk that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may initiate a public inquiry is in the air. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters on Parliament Hill on June 10 that Trudeau has instructed him to hold consultations with both “legal…


Majority of Canadians Say Ottawa Mishandled Foreign Interference: Poll

A new Nanos Research poll says the majority of Canadians believe the Liberal government bungled the response to allegations of Chinese interference in the country’s elections. A majority also said Canada should decrease its trade with China. According to the June report commissioned by Bloomberg News, 33 percent of Canadians polled rated the Liberal government’s response to…


73% of Canadians Say David Johnston Unfit to Be Special Rapporteur: Survey

A large majority of Canadians say former governor general David Johnston is unfit to carry out his government-appointed role as special rapporteur on foreign election interference, according to a survey report released May 29. Specifically, 73 percent of the population questioned whether Johnston either has the foreign policy expertise necessary to conduct a thorough investigation…


Bloc Quebecois Leader Says Ottawa’s Refusal to Hold Public Inquiry Could ‘Destroy Democracy’

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says the Liberal government’s refusal to hold a public inquiry into foreign election interference will “destroy democracy.” “Canada is dragging Quebec into a crisis that is going to destroy democracy by covering [foreign interference] in secrecy,” he said in the House of Commons during question period on May 31. “How can [Prime…