‘No evidence at the time’ of foreign interference in 2019 federal election, Lucki says | 24CA News
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki says the Mounties didn’t have any proof of overseas interference throughout the 2019 federal election and weren’t investigating any felony actions associated to that election.
But in a letter to the clerk of the Commons standing committee on process and House affairs — first reported on by the Globe and Mail and obtained by CBC News — Lucki acknowledged that the Mounties are at the moment investigating overseas interference actions in Canada. She declined handy over redacted paperwork on these investigations to the committee.
The committee handed a movement in a Nov. 14 assembly requiring federal authorities departments and companies to supply redacted paperwork on overseas interference within the 2019 federal election. The choice got here after a narrative from Global News, which reported that CSIS briefed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in January 2022 on Chinese efforts to intervene in that election. The interference reportedly included Chinese authorities funding of no less than 11 candidates.
In the letter to the committee, dated Nov. 25, Lucki stated the RCMP did not have any proof of those actions on the time — however did not say whether or not the Mounties are investigating them now.
“In the context of the 2019 federal election, the RCMP did not have any criminal investigations into election-related activities as there was no evidence at the time,” Lucki stated.
“The RCMP is aware of foreign actor interference in relation to a broad range of activities, including interference in democratic processes.”
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Lucki stated the RCMP could not present paperwork to the committee on its ongoing investigations as a result of doing so might compromise the investigations.
“The RCMP does not make these determinations lightly — open dialogue on the impact that foreign actor interference has on Canada, its citizens and its democratic processes, is critical in helping defend against these threats,” Lucki stated.
“However, foreign actor interference investigations are some of the most sensitive national security investigations the RCMP currently conducts, and it must make every effort to protect the integrity of these investigations.”
Trudeau responds to allegations of overseas interference
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre led off query interval within the House of Commons Tuesday by repeatedly asking the prime minister what he is aware of about alleged Chinese interference in Canadian elections.
“Was there any interference of any kind?” Poilievre stated.
Trudeau responded to Poilievre’s questions by pointing to the work of government-appointed panels which examined overseas interference within the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Trudeau stated these panels concluded that overseas interference was not a big think about both election.
“Canadians can be reassured that the integrity of our elections was not compromised,” Trudeau stated.
But Poilievre was not happy with Trudeau’s reply.
“The question was not whether the election was compromised,” Poilievre stated. “The question was whether officials, in intelligence, law enforcement or the public service, at any time informed the prime minister of allegations of any interference in our elections — yes or no?”
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Trudeau stated he obtained no such data indicating candidates had been funded by Beijing.
“I have never gotten any information from any of our security agencies, or police officers, or intelligence officials, or public servants, on any information on anyone receiving, as a federal candidate, receiving money from China,” he stated.
In a scrum with reporters on the House of Commons Tuesday, Trudeau didn’t remark particularly on Lucki’s letter.
“All of our organizations and agencies, including the RCMP, will continue to do their job to keep Canadians safe and make decisions aligned with their responsibilities,” Trudeau stated.
Trudeau has stated he by no means obtained the alleged CSIS briefings and memos on the centre of the Global News story.
“Let me be clear — I do not have any information, nor have I been briefed on any federal candidates receiving any money from China,” Trudeau stated final week.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino stated he could not touch upon the RCMP investigations.
“What I will say is we take allegations of foreign interference very seriously,” Mendicino stated in a media scrum.
“I will also say that the government will spare no effort when it comes to providing our national security apparatus and law enforcement with all the tools that they need.”
Mendicino stated the federal government is trying “very carefully” at establishing a registry for overseas brokers.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh stated Tuesday that allegations of election interference ought to be taken critically.
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NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh reacts to allegations of Chinese political interference in Canada.
“We don’t want to see any interference in Canadians’ ability to make decisions about their future,” Singh stated at a news convention.
China has denied the allegations. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijan stated earlier this month that China “has no interest in Canada’s internal affairs.”
The Trudeau authorities not too long ago unveiled its Indo-Pacific Strategy, which features a plan to confront “an increasingly disruptive” China.
