NDP Leader Singh Joins Calls for Public Inquiry into Alleged Chinese Election Interference

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh listens to a question from a reporter during a news conference, on Oct. 5, 2022 in Ottawa. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has joined a growing number of politicians and former government advisors who are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to initiate a public inquiry into allegations that the Chinese government interfered in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

“We accept the outcome of the election, but the serious allegations that individual candidates may have been impacted by foreign interference deserve a thorough, transparent and independent investigation,” Singh said in a news release on Feb. 27.

“When Canadians learn about possible foreign interference through leaked documents, confidence in our democracy is put at risk.”

The NDP leader was referring to recent media reports by Global News and the Globe and Mail citing secret Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) documents and intelligence sources that show widespread election interference carried out by Beijing in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

“The way to stop alleged secret Chinese interference is to refuse to keep their secrets for them,” said Singh. “A fully independent and non-partisan public inquiry is the way to shine a light into the shadows.”

He added that any investigation into the matter should examine all possible instances of foreign interference and not just attempts by the Chinese regime.

Public Inquiry

Trudeau was asked by reporters on Feb. 27 if he is open to the idea of calling a public inquiry to examine the interference allegations, but the prime minister said the panel on the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol already determined that the integrity of both the 2019 and 2021 elections held.

Trudeau added that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security will also soon be studying the matter.

“It is extremely important ... that Canadians see that this is open, transparent, nonpartisan, [and] independent because we’re all concerned and worried about our elections’ integrity,” he said.

Singh called Trudeau’s apparent reluctance to call a public inquiry “baffling.”

“I share people’s disappointment in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s shifting and casual response to these incredibly serious allegations. What he knew, when he knew it and how he responded matters,” Singh said in the release.

Former CSIS head Richard Fadden and Canada’s former chief electoral officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley have both called for a public inquiry.

“I think the first thing we need to do is to talk about this seriously, and given the general environment [in] Canada, I don’t think it’s going to work unless we have a public inquiry,” Fadden told Global News on Feb. 26.

Omid Ghoreishi contributed to this report.