CSIS Advises Trudeau That Stronger Government Action Needed to Address Foreign Interference

Ms. Drouin defended the government, saying the Liberals had taken many steps since 2016 to address the threat, such as setting up the National Security and Intelligence Committee
of Parliamentarians (NSICOP). The committee, established for parliamentarians to review intelligence matters, answers to the prime minister and not the House of Commons. NSICOP has
complained of low responsiveness from the government.

Ms. Drouin defended not issuing any warning despite being in receipt of foreign interference allegations, including surrounding Beijing providing funding to candidates.

The 2023 CSIS briefing to Mr. Trudeau mentioned that particular issue. It states plainly and in clear terms, without any words of uncertainty or couching about intelligence being incomplete or uncorroborated, that the Chinese regime meddled in the 2019 and 2021 elections.

“We know that the PRC [People’s Republic of China] clandestinely and deceptively interfered in both the 2019 and 2021 general elections,” wrote CSIS. The agency adds Beijing was being “pragmatic” with its interference activities, by supporting candidates “viewed to be either ‘pro-PRC’ or ‘neutral’ on issues of interest to the PRC government.”

A partially redacted paragraph says that “at least 11 candidates and 13 staff members, were implicated in PRC FI networks [redacted]. This included members of multiple political parties.” Other CSIS intelligence released at the inquiry indicates that seven candidates were Liberal and four were Conservative.

The prime minister was also told by CSIS of reporting suggesting that “on at least one occasion, the PRC [redacted] transferred approximately $250,000 [redacted].” A summary of the redacted information said the funds were transferred to the staff member of a 2019 federal election candidate and then to an Ontario MPP.

Briefings

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in November 2022, before receiving the February 2023 CSIS briefing, that he had not been told about candidates receiving money from China.

The 2023 CSIS briefing says that Mr. Trudeau was briefed by the agency on foreign interference in February 2021 and in October 2022. The specific content of the briefings was not disclosed.

The 2023 CSIS brief also mentions Beijing’s efforts to curtail the Conservative Party in 2021 due to its hardline stance against the Chinese regime.

It says having observed online and media efforts against then-Tory leader Erin O’Toole and Tory candidate Kenny Chiu, the factors surrounding these activities “all suggest that these efforts were orchestrated or directed by the PRC,” says the briefing.

Mr. Trudeau criticized Mr. O’Toole’s allegations after the testimony. “I can understand where someone who lost an election is trying to look for reasons other than themselves why they might have lost an election,” he said.

The first portion of the CSIS briefing to Mr. Trudeau addresses the national security leaks that have appeared in the media since November 2022. Most of the information is redacted, except information indicating CSIS is taking the leaks “extremely seriously” and is investigating the issue with other departments.

If not for those leaks in the media, the pressure likely would not have built enough to call the government to hold a public inquiry into Chinese meddling.

The RCMP told The Epoch Times last week that an investigation remains ongoing into the leaks.

The second phase of public hearings for the commission will conclude on April 10 with testimony from Mr. Trudeau and several ministers. The inquiry must file an interim report by May 3.