Foreign Interference Inquiry ‘Off to a Very Bad Start,’ Poilievre Says

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to reporters during a press conference in Brampton, Ont., on Feb. 5, 2024. Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times

BRAMPTON, Ont.—Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Canada’s public inquiry into foreign interference had gotten off to “a very bad start” as a human rights group withdrew its participation and the Tories were denied full standing.

The inquiry, focused on probing alleged election meddling, concluded its first set of public hearings last week.

Mr. Poilievre referenced the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project’s (URAP) withdrawal from participation in the inquiry on the third day of public hearings on Jan. 31. The human rights group, representing ethnic minorities targeted by Beijing, protested the commission’s granting of full standing to politicians accused of ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which would allow them to question witnesses.

As well, the Conservative Party, which was subject of Beijing interference in the last two elections according to leaked intelligence files, was denied full standing at the inquiry, which Mr. Poilievre takes issue with.

“Human rights groups have said they’re boycotting [the inquiry] because they don’t want to have to be cross-examined by lawyers who indirectly represent the Beijing communist government,” Mr. Poilievre told reporters at a press conference in Brampton, Ont., on Feb. 5.

“So the inquiry is off to a very bad start. And it’s more proof that [Prime Minister Justin Trudeau] wants to cover up the foreign interference so that he can benefit from Beijing helping him in the next election.”

Pressure to hold a public inquiry started building last year after national security leaks in the press depicted widespread interference by Beijing in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

URAP had expressed specific concerns about three politicians accused of having ties to Bejing, including former Liberal MP Han Dong, now serving as an Independent MP, and Michael Chan, deputy mayor of Markham, Ont., who were granted full participation rights at the public inquiry. Additionally, Sen. Yuen Pau Woo was given intervener status.

These politicians face accusations of inappropriate ties to the Chinese consulates regarding election interference, along with other comments and actions perceived as favourable to Beijing. All three men have denied the allegations.

Mr. Dong and Mr. Chan did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Epoch Times. Meanwhile, Mr. Woo has refuted the allegations against him, dismissing them as “a witch hunt.”

‘Bias’

Mr. Poilievre said he has “no doubt that Beijing will try to intervene again” in Canadian elections, while dismissing the foreign interference commission as biased.

“There is a foreign influence inquiry underway. I don’t expect it will solve the problem because already we’re seeing bias from the chair of the commission,” he said.

He also criticized Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue’s decision to deny the Conservatives “full participation rights” at the inquiry, emphasizing that the Tories “have been the victims of this foreign interference.” The Conservatives were granted “intervener” status, which limits their ability to question witnesses and access classified documents.

The Conservatives had earlier protested the commissioner’s decision to grant the federal government full participation rights, arguing that it equates to granting similar rights to the governing Liberal Party.

In a Dec. 22, 2023 decision, Ms. Hogue upheld her previous ruling on Dec. 4 to provide limited standing to the Conservatives. She also dismissed their argument, highlighting a “distinction between the government of the day and the political party that controls the House of Commons.”

A second phase of the foreign interference hearings is scheduled for March, with a third set likely to be scheduled in the fall.