MP Report: Trudeau Continues His Coverup of Beijing’s Interference in Canadian Democracy

As Canadians, we expect our democracy to be free and fair. We have the right to know if foreign powers have influenced our elections and we must hold our leaders accountable for any wrongdoing. Unfortunately, it appears that the current Liberal government, led by Justin Trudeau, is more concerned with concealing their potential role in Beijing’s interference than with safeguarding Canadian democracy. 

I write to you today with a crucial message about the sanctity of our democratic process. The allegations against our Prime Minister are deeply disturbing and imply that the Communist Party in Beijing is actively working to manipulate Canadian democracy. No Canadian should be subject to pressure or intimidation from foreign governments, particularly those with authoritarian agendas like the Chinese Communist Party.  

Regrettably, Justin Trudeau has failed to shield the Chinese community in Canada from the Communist Party’s threats, coercion, and intimidation, which is an affront to our democratic principles. The fact that no foreign agents have been expelled from Canada is troubling. How much more evidence does Justin Trudeau need to take action? 

It is of the utmost importance that Canadians are informed of these allegations, and those who are responsible for foreign interference are held accountable. Recent findings have contradicted Justin Trudeau’s assertions that there was no foreign interference. Given that other nations shared this intelligence with Canada, it is difficult to believe that Justin Trudeau and his senior officials were not also informed. Conservatives are open to all possibilities and will investigate every avenue to uncover the truth. 

A public inquiry into foreign interference could help restore Canadians’ faith in our electoral system and provide answers to concerned citizens. It is time for the Prime Minister to launch a public inquiry into these allegations and demonstrate his commitment to upholding our democracy. 

This week, Parliament will debate and vote on a Conservative motion that calls for Katie Telford, Justin Trudeau’s top advisor, to testify before the Ethics Committee on what the Liberals knew about Beijing’s foreign interference in Canadian elections. This motion is a vital opportunity for the NDP to stand with Canadian democracy or side with the Liberals. 

As we have witnessed on numerous occasions, the Liberals will stop at nothing to conceal their tracks, and it is apparent that they are employing every possible tactic to prevent Telford from appearing before the Ethics Committee. However, we know that Telford possesses information that Canadians have the right to know regarding Beijing’s election interference. What information does she have that is so detrimental to the Liberals that they are willing to go to such lengths to prevent her from testifying? It must be significant. 

Justin Trudeau could easily confirm that no member of his cabinet or caucus is part of Beijing’s interference network. Yet, his refusal to answer this simple, basic question speaks volumes. Instead, he expects Canadians to blindly trust him, despite mounting evidence of foreign interference in our elections. 

I assure my constituents and all Canadians that Conservatives are doing everything in our power to get to the bottom of this issue and hold those responsible for any foreign interference accountable. We cannot allow foreign actors to undermine our democracy and compromise the will of the Canadian people. 

As your Member of Parliament, I urge you to stay informed and engaged on this important issue and to contact my office if you have any questions. We cannot allow foreign actors to undermine our democracy and compromise the will of the Canadian people. The future of our democracy depends on it. 

The Text of the Opposition Motion

That, given the many reports of foreign interference in Canada’s democratic processes by, or on behalf of, the communist regime in Beijing, the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics be empowered and instructed to study all aspects of foreign interference in relation to the 2019 and 2021 general elections, including preparations for those elections, and, to assist the committee with this study,
(a) Katie Telford, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, be ordered to appear before the committee as a witness, for three hours on her own, under oath or solemn affirmation, at a date and time, no later than April 14, 2023, to be fixed by the Chair of the Committee;
(b) the following individuals be invited to appear as witnesses before the committee on dates and times to be fixed by the Chair of the Committee, but no later than Friday, May 19, 2023,
(i) the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, to appear on her own for two hours,
(ii) the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, to appear on his own for two hours,
(iii) the Minister of Public Safety, to appear on his own for two hours,
(iv) Morris Rosenberg, author of the assessment of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol for the 2021 general election, to appear on his own for two hours,
(v) Janice Charette, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, to appear on her own for two hours,
(vi) a panel consisting of the 2019 and 2021 national campaign directors for each recognized party in the House,
(vii) a panel consisting of the security-cleared party representatives to the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections during the 2019 and 2021 general elections,
(viii) a panel consisting of the Honourable Ian Shugart, Greta Bossenmaier, Nathalie Drouin, Gina Wilson and Marta Morgan, members of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol Panel during the 2019 general election,
(ix) James Judd, author of the assessment of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol for the 2019 general election, to appear on his own,
(x) a panel consisting of David Morrison, François Daigle, Rob Stewart and Marta Morgan, members of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol Panel during the 2021 general election,
(xi) David Vigneault, Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, to appear on his own for two hours,
(xii) John McCall MacBain former Chair of the Board of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation,
(xiii) Élise Comtois, former Executive Director of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation,
(xiv) the Hon. John McCallum, former Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, to appear on his own for one hour,
(xv) Jennifer May, Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, to appear on her own for one hour;
(c) for the purposes of this study, it be an instruction to the committee that,
(i) it hold at least one additional meeting, for a duration of three hours, during each House sitting week concerning this study,
(ii) it hold at least one meeting during the adjournment period beginning March 31, 2023, if necessary, for the purposes of paragraph (a),
(iii) any proceedings before the committee in relation to any motion concerning non-compliance with paragraph (a) of this order shall, if not previously disposed of, be interrupted upon the earlier of the completion of four hours of consideration or one sitting week after the motion was first moved and, in turn, every question necessary for the disposal of the motion shall be put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment;
(d) for the purposes of this study, the committee shall, notwithstanding paragraph (p) of the special order adopted on Thursday, June 23, 2022, have the first priority for the use of House resources for committee meetings; and
(e) the evidence and documentation adduced by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs during the current session in relation to its study of foreign election interference shall be deemed to have been laid upon the table and referred to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

https://apps.ourcommons.ca/ParlDataWidgets/en/motion/12286538