Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday claimed several current and former Conservative parliamentarians were either engaged in or targets of foreign interference as he lambasted the federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre for refusing to get top-level security clearance. His remark drew a sharp response from Poilievre, who demanded a list of names.
Poilievre responded with a statement accusing Trudeau of “lying” and called on him to release the names of parliamentarians alleged by a review committee to have wittingly or unwittingly acted on behalf of a foreign country.
He also alleged, “Trudeau knowingly allowed Chinese influence. To save China, after India, Trudeau is now targeting Conservative party MPs over foreign interference.”
Trudeau made his remarks while testifying before the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions in Ottawa.
Polls show the Conservatives would easily beat Trudeau’s Liberals in the next election, which must be held by October 2025.
The probe has already heard evidence that China and other nations tried to meddle in Canadian politics. Beijing consistently denies this is the case.
“I have the names of a number of parliamentarians, former parliamentarians and or candidates in the Conservative Party … who are engaged, or are at high risk of, or for whom there is clear intelligence around foreign interference,” Trudeau said.
A few seconds later he appeared to temper his comments, saying the intelligence about Conservative activities could be “shoddy or incomplete or just allegations from a single source”.
He did not give further details.
Poilievre Denial To Security Clearance
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has declined to apply for the security clearance needed to read all the intelligence uncovered by the probe, on the grounds this would prevent him from commenting on the public proceedings.
Trudeau said he had asked the Canadian Security Intelligence Service spy agency to warn Poilievre about Conservative members who could be vulnerable.
Poilievre’s decision not to get clearance for classified briefings was “bewildering to me and entirely lacks common sense,” Trudeau said.
In a statement, Poilievre accused Trudeau of lying.
“My chief of staff has received classified briefings from the government. At no time has the government told me or my chief of staff of any current or former Conservative parliamentarian or candidate knowingly participating in foreign interference,” he said.
India-Canada Diplomatic Row
The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar. New Delhi rejected Trudeau’s charges as “absurd”.
On Monday, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and announced withdrawing its high commissioner from Canada after dismissing Ottawa’s allegations linking the envoy to a probe into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar.
(With agency inputs)
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