Minister Affirms Cabinet Transparency Regarding Foreign Interference, Does Not Withhold Specific Information

With MPs pressing the government to hand over “cabinet confidences” to the Foreign Interference Commission, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc downplayed the value of the records.

“There are no cabinet documents which relate to specific incidents or intelligence on foreign interference incidents,” Mr. LeBlanc said on June 20. He added that cabinet meetings hadn’t gone into details about how any particular country might have attempted to interfere.

“These issues are dealt with by different ministers according to their responsibilities,” he said, speaking in French.

The minister was appearing before the Commons Procedure and House Affairs Committee, alongside the prime minister’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor Nathalie Drouin.

MPs have called the officials to committee to discuss the withholding of documents from the inquiry headed by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue.

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“Some documents contained redactions for Cabinet confidence, solicitor-client privilege or protection of personal information,” said the footnote. “Discussions as to the application of these privileges is ongoing.”

Mr. LeBlanc and Ms. Drouin told the committee that the discussions are still continuing.

“The commission understands the need to protect cabinet secrets, but at the same time it wants to be sure it has all the elements, especially with regards to policies,” said Ms. Drouin.

Mr. LeBlanc said the government has already provided over 46,000 documents to the commission, with thousands of others being processed. He said some cabinet confidences have been released under a special exemption set out in the terms of references.

The minister said it’s a “very unusual process” for confidences to be released. “The opposition parties agreed to those terms of reference and of course, now they’re manufacturing a lot of indignation with respect to this issue.”

Tory MP Michael Cooper accused the minister and his government of “hiding” information from the commission.

He read an excerpt from a letter sent by a commission counsel saying “the interest of the commission and the interest of the committee would appear to align” with respect to the production of the documents.

Commission spokesperson Michael Tansey confirmed to The Epoch Times a letter was sent to the committee with that content.

“Discussions between the Commission and the Government of Canada on document production continue; the Commission [has] no further comment at this time,” he said in an email.

NDP MP Jenny Kwan asked the officials how many documents are being withheld.

“Ultimately, what we all want coming out of this inquiry is to have faith in the process and into the inquiry and its outcome,” she said. “If documents are withheld, you are going to undermine and undercut the work of the commissioner.”

Ms. Drouin said she didn’t know the number of documents but said that all relevant documents on foreign interference have been provided.

Along with examining government means for countering foreign interference, the commission announced this week it would take on the issue of parliamentarians accused of colluding with foreign states.

The accusations were contained in a report by a national security watchdog, which said some federal politicians have been “wittingly” working for foreign interests. The House of Commons voted to have the inquiry investigate the allegations.