A foreign government tried to get a Liberal candidate defeated and a former parliamentarian is suspected of having worked to influence parliamentary business on behalf of a foreign government, the public inquiry into interference in Canadian politics was told Friday.
Officials from the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) unveiled two new examples of such foreign interference, in addition to four examples that had already been released publicly.
Officials did not name the countries suspected in the newest examples of foreign interference or the parliamentarians involved.
Officials said China is the most active country trying to interfere in Canada’s affairs, followed by India. However, they warned that the current conflict in the Middle East could result in Iran trying to interfere in the next federal election.
The revelation during Friday’s testimony came after the inquiry asked CSIS to compile a list of all known examples of foreign interference in Canadian politics. In addition to the two new case, the list included:
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The government of Pakistan attempting to “clandestinely influence Canadian federal politics” to advance its interests in Canada;
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Foreign interference that resulted in a briefing to the secret-cleared representatives of the Liberal Party of Canada shortly before the 2021 election and to the Prime Minister shortly after;
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A foreign government actively supported a candidate in the 2019 nomination race in Don Valley North. Earlier in its hearings, the inquiry heard testimony that the Chinese consulate in Toronto arranged for bus loads of students to vote for Liberal nomination candidate Han Dong in that riding;
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The government of India is suspected of using proxy agents to “clandestinely provide financial support to specific candidates from three political parties in a federal election. The receipt of funds cannot be confirmed, nor the candidates’ potential awareness of the origins.”
More to come.