Federal Government to Release Key Cabinet Documents to Inquiry, Release Summaries Publicly

Lawyers enter the hearing room as the Public Inquiry into Foreign Election Interference resumes in Ottawa, on Sept. 16, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

The Liberal government has agreed to give the Foreign Interference Commission access to key cabinet documents and to publicly disclose document summaries.

In an Oct. 7 press release, Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue said that after extensive discussions, the government agreed to grant the commission access to four cabinet memorandums. The documents will be entered into evidence during the inquiry’s latest round of hearings.

“The extraordinary degree of access by the Commission to both classified information and information subject to Cabinet confidence is unprecedented and reflects the importance of the Inquiry’s work,” Hogue said.

“The Government’s willingness to disclose this information to the Commission will assist me in developing recommendations that will help to preserve the integrity of Canada’s electoral processes and democratic institutions and enhance Canadians’ trust and confidence in their democracy.”

The memorandums were previously provided to former Governor General David Johnston, who served as the government’s special rapporteur tasked with investigating allegations of Chinese foreign interference in Canada’s federal elections. Johnston later stepped down from his role amid opposition party concerns about conflict of interest regarding his connections to the Trudeau family, which led to the establishment of the Foreign Interference Inquiry.

Hogue noted that the government had previously allowed the commission to access cabinet confidences on two occasions: to operational documents used by national security officials to brief cabinet or its committees, and to additional memorandums that the commissioner identified as crucial for her work.

The inquiry has previously released classified information and sensitive testimonies from national intelligence officials in the form of summaries or redacted documents as part of its commitment to transparency.

Conservatives have also called for the release of the names of parliamentarians who allegedly colluded with foreign powers, as mentioned in the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians report released in June. While Hogue has been tasked with investigating this matter, she said in a Sept. 13 public notice that no names will be disclosed during the inquiry, citing the need to protect national security while also ensuring a fair process for everyone involved.

The inquiry, which continues until Oct. 16, will feature testimony from several cabinet ministers as well as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the coming days.

The commission is currently assessing the federal government’s ability to detect, deter, and counter foreign interference. The commissioner will deliver her final report by the end of the year.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.