Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested on Wednesday that some members of the official opposition Conservative Party may be involved in foreign interference, criticizing the party for allegedly not taking the issue seriously.
Trudeau made these remarks during public hearings held by an independent commission investigating foreign interference in Canadian politics. With polls indicating that the Conservatives could easily defeat Trudeau’s Liberals in the next federal election, due by October 2025, these allegations add further tension to the political landscape.
The commission has already heard evidence suggesting that foreign powers, including China, attempted to meddle in Canadian elections. Beijing has repeatedly denied such claims.
“I have the names of several parliamentarians, former parliamentarians, and candidates within the Conservative Party who are either engaged in or at high risk of foreign interference, or for whom there is clear intelligence indicating such activities,” Trudeau stated.
However, Trudeau later seemed to temper his accusations, acknowledging that the intelligence in question might be “shoddy or incomplete or just allegations from a single source.”
No additional details were provided by Trudeau.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has opted not to apply for the security clearance required to access all of the intelligence gathered by the probe, arguing that doing so would prevent him from openly discussing the public proceedings. Trudeau criticized this decision, saying it “bewildered” him and lacked common sense.
Trudeau also mentioned that he had requested the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to alert Poilievre to potential vulnerabilities among Conservative members.
In response, Poilievre accused Trudeau of spreading falsehoods.
“My chief of staff has received classified briefings from the government. At no point has the government informed me or my chief of staff of any current or former Conservative parliamentarian or candidate knowingly engaging in foreign interference,” Poilievre said in a statement.
This latest controversy follows Canada’s decision to expel six Indian diplomats earlier this week, linking them to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader and accusing India of targeting dissidents on Canadian soil. In retaliation, India ordered six Canadian diplomats to leave.