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Liberal Government Failed to Protect Canada’s Democracy from Foreign Interference
1-29-2025
Ottawa, ON – January 28, 2025
The final report from Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue has confirmed alarming concerns about foreign interference in Canada’s democratic institutions—concerns that Conservatives have been raising for the past two years. The report highlights clear evidence that foreign states, including China and India, have actively attempted to meddle in Canada’s electoral processes, raising serious questions about the Liberal government’s failure to act decisively.
Foreign Interference in Canadian Elections
Commissioner Hogue’s findings state unequivocally that “foreign states are trying to interfere in our democratic institutions, including electoral processes.” Her report further confirms that foreign interference “may have had some impact on the outcome of a [Liberal] nomination contest or the result of an election in a given riding.”
Among the most concerning findings is the alleged interference by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. The report highlights:
• Beijing’s reported involvement in the 2019 Liberal nomination race in Don Valley North.
• Efforts by the CCP to defeat former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu in Steveston–Richmond East during the 2021 general election.
• A coordinated foreign disinformation campaign targeting the Conservative Party in 2021, which likely originated from Beijing.
• Interference in more than one Conservative leadership race by foreign actors from China and India.
These revelations confirm what many Canadians have feared: the Liberal government failed to safeguard our democracy from foreign meddling. Even more concerning is the possibility that the government withheld critical information from the public or failed to act because it was politically advantageous for the Liberal Party.
Political Leaders Divided Over Foreign Interference Report
While all parties have expressed concern over foreign interference, reactions from political leaders have varied widely.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, after reading the unredacted report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), stated, "I am more alarmed today than I was yesterday after having read the report." He went further to claim that "there are a number of MPs who have knowingly provided help to foreign governments, some to the detriment of Canada and Canadians," and even labeled these individuals as "traitors to the country."
Singh also suggested that some of the cases detailed in the report appear to be criminal and should be prosecuted, adding that the interference spans multiple levels of government.
However, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May took a more tempered approach, stating that she does not believe any of her colleagues knowingly betrayed Canada. "Are there currently MPs sitting with us in the chamber who would set out knowingly to sell out Canada for personal benefit? If there are, there's no evidence of that in the full report," she said.
Meanwhile, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet has sought security clearance to view the full report, making Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre the only major party leader to refuse access. Singh criticized Poilievre's reluctance, arguing, "To me, that disqualifies him as a leader, and I do not buy his phony excuses."
Liberal Government’s Inadequate Response
Commissioner Hogue’s report is clear: the government’s response has been inadequate. She states that the Liberal government’s actions have been “far from perfect,” that they have “taken too long to act,” and that they have been “insufficiently transparent when it comes to foreign interference.”
The NSICOP report calls the Liberal government’s response “a serious failure ... from which Canada may feel the consequences for years to come.”
Trudeau and his government have come under pressure to release the names of the parliamentarians mentioned in the unredacted NSICOP report. However, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc has resisted these calls, arguing that releasing classified intelligence could expose CSIS methods, put sources at risk, and damage Canada’s relationships with allies who share intelligence.
National Security and Public Confidence at Risk
Canada’s Intelligence Commissioner, Simon Noël, has warned about the risks of loose talk around classified intelligence, stating, "The more we speak publicly on national security and disclose information without knowing it, you know who's listening more? People on St. Patrick Street and Charlotte Street," referring to the Chinese and Russian embassies in Ottawa.
Despite these concerns, the House of Commons overwhelmingly voted in favor of expanding the mandate of the public inquiry investigating foreign election interference to include the allegations raised in the NSICOP report. A spokesperson for Commissioner Hogue said she is "honored by the confidence expressed towards the commission."
Canada Must Act to Protect Its Democracy
While the report reassures Canadians that there is “no evidence of ‘traitors’ in Parliament plotting with foreign states to act against Canada,” it does not absolve the government of its failures. The Liberals had a duty to protect our elections from foreign influence and ensure public trust in our democratic institutions. Their failure to act in a timely and transparent manner has left serious concerns about Canada’s vulnerability to foreign meddling.
The Conservative Party thanks Commissioner Hogue for her diligent work and will carefully review her recommendations to strengthen Canada’s democratic institutions against foreign threats. Protecting Canada’s elections from foreign interference is not a partisan issue—it is a fundamental responsibility of any government. Moving forward, urgent action is needed to ensure that no foreign state can undermine the integrity of our democracy.
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