Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown has been officially summoned to appear before the House of Commons public safety and national security committee in Ottawa after previously declining an invitation to testify.
The committee is investigating alleged electoral interference and violent criminal activities reportedly carried out in Canada by agents of the Indian government. Brown was initially invited to appear in October but declined the request. The committee voted on Thursday to summon him, compelling his attendance.
Liberal MP Randeep Sarai clarified the purpose of the summons, saying, “It’s not to say that there’s wrongdoing, it’s just a matter of getting the witness here.”
The summons is tied to Brown’s disqualification during the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership race, a contest ultimately won by Pierre Poilievre. The party’s leadership committee cited “serious allegations of wrongdoing by the Patrick Brown campaign” as the reason for his removal. A June report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) included a redacted paragraph alleging Indian interference in a Conservative leadership race, though it did not specify the year.
Brown has not responded to inquiries from INsauga.com since the October invitation or the recent summons. The committee noted that Brown declined the initial invitation and did not reply to follow-up efforts.
Conservative MPs on the committee opposed the summons, with Manitoba MP Raquel Dancho describing it as a “sledgehammer of a tool to use on someone who I don’t believe is being accused of anything.” Dancho suggested the move might be politically motivated, calling it “an abuse” of the summons process. Despite these objections, the motion to summon Brown passed by a 7-4 vote.
While the committee has not leveled specific allegations against Brown, the Conservative Party’s leadership body expressed concerns in 2022 about his campaign’s compliance with party rules and the Canada Elections Act.
Brown has been vocal about foreign interference in Brampton, previously accusing the Sri Lankan High Commission of involvement following protests over a Tamil Genocide Memorial. He has also stated that he was briefed by the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) on foreign interference in Brampton but could not disclose details due to security protocols.
The issue of foreign interference remains a sensitive and complex topic in Canada, with scrutiny focused on multiple countries, including India, China, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Iran.