Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has rejected a classified briefing from CSIS on foreign interference targeting the Conservative party, citing unacceptable restrictions on his ability to discuss the information. This marks the latest escalation in a dispute between Poilievre and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over security clearances and alleged foreign interference in Canadian politics.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre , who has for months refused to apply for a top-secret clearance to receive confidential briefings, has now rejected a proposal by CSIS to offer him classified guidance on foreign interference. He said the Canadian Security Intelligence Service is free to brief any of the MPs or senators in the Conservative caucus directly if they feel it’s warranted. This is the latest development in a tussle between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mr.
Poilievre that began last June after the release of a report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, which said some parliamentarians are collaborating with foreign governments such as China and India to advance their own interests. NSICOP also said Beijing and New Delhi allegedly interfered in Conservative leadership races. Mr. Poilievre has refused to apply for the security clearance necessary to read the unredacted report. He said the obligations of this clearance would restrict his ability to discuss and hold the government to account on what he had learned. In October, Mr. Trudeau, who has repeatedly criticized Mr. Poilievre for refusing top-level security clearance, announced he would ask security services to find another way to brief his rival on foreign interference targeting the Conservatives. In December, Mr. Poilievre’s office announced he had agreed to receive a briefing on national-security matters from CSIS, though without being required to obtain special clearance that he has said would constrain his ability to publicly hold the government to account. This would be a “Threat Reduction Measures” (TRM) briefing that can be given to an individual “regardless of security clearance status,” the Conservatives said. But the Conservative Leader’s office said it was subsequently informed even this CSIS briefing would come with restrictions on Mr. Poilievre’s ability to talk or take action on what he had learned.“In subsequent discussions with the government regarding the offered TRM briefing, officials indicated that should Mr. Poilievre receive the TRM briefing, he would be legally prevented from speaking with anyone other than legal counsel about the briefing and would be able to take action only as expressly authorized by the Government, rendering him unable to effectively use any relevant information he received,” Sebastian Skamski, director of media relations for Mr. Poilievre’s office, said in a statement. “Under the terms of the briefing proposed, Mr. Poilievre would obtain information about foreign interference directed at a Parliamentarian. But he would then be unable to speak with the Parliamentarian about the briefing received unless the Government provided consent to do so.” Mr. Skamski said the Conservatives consider these restrictions unacceptable and “entirely contrary to the government’s supposed objective of enabling the person briefed to reduce risk.” The Conservatives say they have been told the information CSIS intended to discuss with Mr. Poilievre was not about matters that would require the removal of individuals from the Conservative caucus or from the list of nominated party candidates but about the risks that some in the party may be targeted by foreign interference. “In exchanges between representatives of the Leader of the Opposition and the government, the government advised that the intended briefing did not implicate the suitability of any current Parliamentarian to remain in caucus, nor did the intended briefing touch on any individual nominated as a candidate for the Party or seeking to be nominated,” Mr. Skamski said. “Government officials advised that their proposed briefing concerns foreign interference “directed at” Parliamentarians.“Should any Parliamentarian have foreign interference directed at them, the government could and should use TRMs to notify that Parliamentarian directly of the specific threat. This has been done in the past such as in the cases of MPs Michael Chong and Jenny Kwan,” Mr. Skamski said, referring to the Conservative foreign affairs critic and the NDP’s immigration critic. The Prime Minister appeared before a public inquiry to answer questions about his record in fighting foreign interference. During testimony, Mr. Trudeau redirected the focus to the Official Opposition, and announced he had been given the names of past and present Conservative parliamentarians and candidates who are linked to foreign interference. He criticized Mr. Poilievre for not applying for clearance. Near the end of that month, Mr. Trudeau alleged that Mr. Poilievre’s refusal to obtain a security clearance was a dereliction of his duty.
Foreign Interference Pierre Poilievre Justin Trudeau CSIS Security Clearance Conservative Party Canada
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