(Ottawa) NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he is more worried than ever about the extent of foreign interference activities carried out by states hostile to Canada with the assistance of MPs currently sitting in the House of Commons.
Mr Singh made the worrying observation to reporters after reading the unredacted report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSIC).
This committee published a hard-hitting report last week in which it asserts that parliamentarians are “half-willing or half-willing participants” in efforts by foreign states to carry out interference activities on Canadian soil.
The leader of the NDP, who has the required security clearance allowing him to have access to secret information affecting national security, thus drew a conclusion diametrically opposed to that of the leader of the Green Party, Elizabeth May, who also read the same uncensored report on Tuesday. During a long press conference, Ms. May said she was reassured after reading the report that no current MP was disloyal to Canada.
Mr. Singh also at the same time invited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the leader of the Conservative Party to take their responsibilities by dismissing MPs within their political party who would have acted, according to him, in a manner that goes to the against the interests of Canada.
“I’m more concerned today than I was yesterday after reading the report,” Jagmeet Singh said at a press conference Thursday afternoon. “What’s clear to me is that Justin Trudeau knew about it and did nothing. And Pierre Poilievre doesn’t even want to hear about the serious allegations that directly affect his party.”
“Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre are putting the interests of their political parties ahead of the interests of the country. This is unacceptable,” Singh added, saying current MPs are targeted in the report and in his eyes are “traitors.”
Parliamentarians have “knowingly or willfully ignored” accepted funds or benefits from foreign missions. Others sought help from foreign missions to obtain the support of a diaspora during the elections. Parliamentarians have provided foreign diplomats with inside information about the work or opinions of colleagues. Others relayed information learned in confidence from the government to a known intelligence agent of a foreign state.
Mr. Singh’s press conference came just minutes after the House of Commons unanimously passed third reading of Bill C-70 on countering foreign interference. This bill, which will notably grant new powers to CSIS and will make it possible to create a register of foreign agents of influence, is also being studied in the Senate. It is expected to be adopted before the end of the parliamentary session scheduled for June 21.