Chong interference memo fell into a ‘black hole’, Trudeau adviser tells committee – National | 24CA News
The prime minister’s nationwide safety adviser says Ottawa wants to enhance the best way it manages intelligence, and officers are taking steps to deal with breakdowns in communication inside authorities.
Jody Thomas made the feedback Thursday morning at a gathering of a parliamentary committee that’s investigating allegations that members of Parliament had been focused by overseas interference.
Thomas mentioned she wouldn’t speculate on the specifics of what came about earlier than her tenure, after watchdog David Johnston present in a latest report that there have been critical points with the best way the federal government handles confidential data.
The former governor basic’s report concluded that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service was conscious of indications Chinese officers had been considering motion directed at Canadian MPs, however didn’t establish negligence on the highest political ranges.
The report mentioned intelligence about Chinese officers searching for data on Conservative MP Michael Chong didn’t attain the prime minister, the general public security minister or Chong himself till after it was leaked and reported by media.
Thomas mentioned the memo was despatched to 3 deputy ministers throughout authorities however successfully went right into a “black hole” and wasn’t shared with the suitable folks.
At the time, CSIS supposed to offer Chong and a second unnamed MP with a briefing, Johnston’s report mentioned. Chong mentioned that he did obtain a briefing however it didn’t embrace any particulars a couple of risk to his household.
Thomas mentioned the memo about Chong was despatched to the Privy Council Office in July 2021 and was offered to her predecessor David Morrison in August, however she wouldn’t say why it wasn’t shared with the prime minister, Chong or different related folks on the time.
“I’m not going to account for what’s happened with my predecessor,” she instructed the committee.
Johnston’s report confirmed that CSIS additionally despatched details about the focusing on of Chong to the general public security minister and his chief of employees through a top-secret electronic mail platform however they by no means acquired it. The public service instructed Johnston that they don’t have entry to the correct system.
Thomas mentioned it ought to have been the accountability of the safety equipment to make sure the data was offered.
Bill Blair, who was public security minister on the time, mentioned Thursday afternoon that he, too, first discovered about threats in opposition to Chong within the media and that if he had been briefed about threats in opposition to an MP, he would have taken motion.
He instructed MPs on the committee there isn’t any electronic mail account the place top-secret data is shared with folks, however there’s a top-secret terminal, and he didn’t have entry to at least one in his places of work.
“If (CSIS) determined that information is not required to be shared with us, and I have no knowledge of that, I would not have the opportunity to act on it,” he mentioned, including that questions on why the data wasn’t shared with him needs to be put to the director of CSIS, David Vigneault.
Thomas mentioned steps have been taken to make sure higher data circulate since her arrival to the nationwide safety adviser place in 2022, and extra is now being performed to make sure officers are conscious of tips on how to devour intelligence.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
