Two new possible cases of foreign interference raised before the Hogue commission | Public inquiry into foreign interference

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) informed the Hogue commission that a former parliamentarian was suspected of having worked to influence the work of Parliament on behalf of an unidentified foreign government.

In a written summary released Friday during the commission’s hearings in Ottawa, the SCRS also cites indications that an unspecified foreign government may have participated in interference to reduce the chances of a Liberal candidate being elected.

The SCRS suspects that the foreign government sought to thwart the election of the Liberal candidate because of his support for issues perceived as contrary to the interests of this country.

The federal intelligence agency emphasizes that these two cases were previously unknown to the Commission of Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Electoral Processes and Federal Democratic Institutions. However, the SRCS did not provide any additional details on the countries or individuals involved in these allegations.

The commission of inquiry heard testimony on Friday from the acting director of SCRSVanessa Lloyd, former director David Vigneault and other current and former officials of the Canadian spy service.

MPs helped foreign actors, report says

The allegations concerning a ex-parliamentarian suspected of interference adds grist to the mill of those who fear that a Canadian politician may have participated in foreign interference.

The Committee of Parliamentarians on National Security and Intelligence dropped a small bombshell last June by publishing a redacted version of a secret report. The committee says that some parliamentarians are, according to the intelligence services, half-willing or willing participants in the efforts of foreign states to interfere in the country’s politics.

This brutal and vague revelation from the committee – an intelligence watchdog made up of MPs and senators, all bound by secrecy – has sparked concern in Ottawa that parliamentarians knowingly involved in acts of interference could still be active in politics in Canada.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who has a level security clearance very secretconsulted the full version of the report of the committee of parliamentarians. She argued in June that this report did not contain no list of MPs who have shown disloyalty to Canada.

Ms May added, however, that an unidentified former MP, who is accused in the report of proactively disclosing privileged information to a foreign agent, should be fully investigated by authorities.

The commission of inquiry, chaired by Judge Marie-Josée Hogue, is currently examining the ability of federal agencies to identify and counter foreign interference. A final report is expected by the end of the year.

No public denunciation

Commissioner Hogue and her staff identified and reviewed the intelligence reports cited in the classified and redacted versions of the Parliamentarians’ Committee Report. The commission also questioned senior government officials and heads of intelligence agencies behind closed doors about the report’s sensitive findings.

Judge Hogue, however, warned that she would not publicly identify the parliamentarians suspected of interference by the committee. She recently reiterated that the specific allegations in the report are based on classified information, meaning the committee cannot make them public or even disclose them to the parliamentarians in question.

As a result, the commission of inquiry will not be able to provide individuals with a meaningful opportunity to defend themselves, she admitted.

Ms Lloyd told the inquest on Friday that the commitment SCRS among parliamentarians had revealed the existence of a sliding scale awareness of foreign interference among politicians.

On the one hand, a parliamentarian may know little and therefore be surprised to be targeted by a foreign actor, she explained. Some might have a better understanding of foreign interference and be grateful to know more about making informed decisions.

On the other hand, there is a very small subset of individuals who understand that an activity constitutes foreign interference and who, by the nature of their engagement with a threat actor, knowingly benefit from or participate in that activity themselves, Ms. Lloyd said.

China, India, Russia and Pakistan

A March 2024 intelligence assessment filed Friday with the committee indicates that foreign interference has become normal behavior for some foreign states and their agents.

This allows them to exert their will over Canada in a way that is difficult to detect and does not reach thresholds that would result in military conflictindicates this document.

This analysis also confirms that the main actors of interference in Canada are still China, India, Russia and Pakistan.

Chinese actors of foreign interference are largely pragmatic and tend to follow the paths of least resistance by supporting the party or individual they consider most favorable to Beijing’s interests, the document adds.

The assessment found that the Indian government wanted to support Canadian politicians who advocate pro-Indian views and counter politicians deemed detrimental to India’s interests.

A November 2021 document filed Friday indicates that the SCRS had already begun at the time to take steps to reduce the threat posed by India’s activities targeting Canadian democratic institutions and elections.

The initiative involved classified and unclassified interviews and briefings with current and former MPs on alleged foreign interference attempts by New Delhi.