Canadians have remained in the dark for years about interference by China and other foreign countries in their democracy. Inquiries have been slow-walked, delayed or obstructed by the Trudeau government.

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Public allegations of Chinese interference date back to 2021, when the Conservatives complained that Beijing was meddling in the federal election. In November 2022, Global News reported that, “Canadian intelligence officials have warned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that China has allegedly been targeting Canada with a vast campaign of foreign interference, which includes funding a clandestine network of at least 11 federal candidates running in the 2019 election.”

The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond directly, but stated that, “Protecting Canadians’ security is our top priority. Threats, harassment or intimidation of Canadian citizens are unacceptable, and all allegations of interference are investigated thoroughly by our security agencies.”

In September 2023, the government launched a public inquiry into foreign interference, appointing Quebec Court of Appeal judge Marie-Josée Hogue as its commissioner. Then, in March 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed former governor general David Johnston to investigate and recommend actions to address the situation.

A few months later, Johnston ruled out the need for a public inquiry into foreign interference, saying, “The specific instances of interference are less concerning than some media reporting has suggested.” It was the first of a series of high-handed performances by ranking members of the country’s Liberal elite. Johnston suggested public hearings be held instead so Canadians could air their misgivings.

It was a catch-22 gambit that ignored serious allegations that had been made by CSIS. Johnston said a public inquiry won’t work because it must have access to classified documents and such documents cannot be divulged in public because they are classified.

He also emphasized that opposition party leaders could gain the necessary security clearance to examine the classified documents, in order to determine whether there was wrongdoing — but doing so would preclude them from commenting publicly on the information. It was designed to offer disclosure, but only to those who agreed to by permanently muzzled.

The same catch-22 continues. Following the recent release of the report of the National Security Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians into foreign interference, which alleged that some parliamentarians had been “semi-witting or witting” participants “in the efforts of foreign states to interfere in our politics,” both Green Leader Elizabeth May and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh received the necessary clearance to read the classified sections of the report, but drew contradictory conclusions.

May said that no sitting members of Parliament were cited as being “wittingly” involved with foreign interference, but Singh declared that having read the same top-secret report, he was appalled that there are numerous “traitors” sitting in the Canadian Parliament.

In April, the prime minister testified at the public inquiry into foreign election interference that CSIS’s warnings about Chinese meddling weren’t relayed to him — or at the very least, he didn’t read them.

All these maneuvers and excuses are undemocratic and flout the rule of law. Canadians have a right to know if their elected representatives have been accused of collaborating with a foreign government, and what evidence exists to support those allegations. But under Trudeau’s tenure, those who know and have read the report cannot divulge the truth to Canadians, even if some parliamentarians pose a danger to national security.

The Trudeau government simply has not protected the country. As one CSIS report stated: “State actors are able to conduct (foreign interference) successfully in Canada because there are no consequences, either legal or political.”

Financial Post

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