Trudeau Says He Must Be Careful Answering Questions on National Security Amid Chinese Interference Reports

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on June 21, 2022. The Canadian Press/Patrick Doyle

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today said in the House of Commons that he must be “very careful” in responding to questions pertaining to national security, amid reports of Beijing’s interference in Canada’s 2019 federal election.

“Canadians understand that I have to be very careful in answering questions about national security,” Trudeau said during question period on Nov. 30.

“Canada and its allies are regularly targeted by foreign states like China, including during election campaigns.”

Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois have recently pressed Trudeau in the House to answer questions about alleged Chinese interference in the 2019 federal election, which was sparked by a Global News story published Nov. 7 that alleged that intelligence officials briefed the prime minister in January about at least 11 candidates who received Chinese funding during the election campaign.

Trudeau has denied the allegations over recent weeks, telling reporters on Nov. 20 that he was never briefed about “any federal candidates receiving any money from China.”

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre today questioned if Trudeau asked the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) after the Global News story broke whether or not the allegations of candidates being funded were true.

“I receive regular briefings,” Trudeau said, adding, “Our electoral integrity was not compromised.”

Trudeau said in French during yesterday’s question period that there was no foreign interference in the 2019 election that would’ve “changed any of the results in any significant way.”

Today, Poilievre pressed the prime minister on this point.

“He says there was not interference in a significant way that would have changed the outcome. Was there any interference of any kind?” he asked.

“Interference in Canadians affairs by foreign powers is an ongoing thing,” Trudeau replied. “Whether it’s cyber interference, whether it’s interference with communities here in Canada, whether it’s attempts to influence the media.”

The prime minister again added that election integrity “was not compromised.”

Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet also questioned Trudeau today about the foreign interference allegations.

“I wonder, at what point does the interference go from insignificant to a lot?” Blanchet said.

Trudeau said questions about election interference are “fundamental and very important.”

“I understand that the honourable member is trying to challenge the integrity of our institutions,” he said.

“We can confirm that despite the fact that there is ongoing interference in our country, our democratic institutions and elections were not affected.”