Canada's RCMP is not looking into CSIS reports of illegal election interference by the Chinese government recently leaked to the media, but is investigating the leaks as violations of the Security of Information Act.
RCMP investigating media leaks on foreign interference | North Bay Nugget - Catherine Lévesque:
March 6, 2023 - "The RCMP is investigating possible violations of the Security of Information Act associated with recent media leaks about foreign interference in Canada’s elections. The federal police sent out a statement confirming the launch of the investigation on Monday, specifying that the investigation is not focused 'on any one security agency' but provided no other details on the scope of the investigation or when it started.... 'As the RCMP is investigating these incidents, there will be no further comment on this matter at this time,' said Cpl. Kim Chamberland, spokesperson for the RCMP in an email.
"This announcement comes a little over two weeks after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was first asked about top-secret documents viewed by the Globe and Mail about Beijing’s alleged interference and said he expects Canada’s spy agency to take these leaks seriously.
"Global News also revealed, based on intelligence sources, that Trudeau had allegedly ignored the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) warning that Liberal MP Han Dong was helped by the Chinese consulate during the 2019 election. Trudeau has pushed back against these allegations saying, 'it is not up to unelected security officials to dictate to political parties who can or cannot run'.
"Speaking on Monday evening, Trudeau said the RCMP was not directed by his office nor by his government to look into the media leaks."
Read more: https://www.nugget.ca/news/rcmp-security-violations-media-leaks-foreign-interference
March 2, 2023 - "While multiple media reports have detailed allegations of foreign interference, including attempts to co-opt candidates, the top bureaucrat at the Department of Public Safety said Wednesday there are no active RCMP investigations underway into the last election. 'I can confirm that the RCMP is not investigating any of allegations that are arising from the last election,' Shawn Tupper, deputy minister at the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, told a committee of MPs studying foreign election inference.
"Jody Thomas, the prime minister's national security adviser, told MPs on the procedure and House affairs committee that she and other officials have routinely briefed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about election interference by China — she called Beijing the 'greatest threat' — and other bad actors... She declined to provide specifics about the interference, saying it would be inappropriate in light of strict national security laws that require secrecy....
"Former CSIS director Richard Fadden told CBC News Network's Power & Politics that he is somewhat surprised at the lack of criminal charges. Fadden said that while CSIS investigations might not provide enough evidence to hit the high bar required for criminal charges, he was surprised the RCMP is not investigating in light of recent media reports alleging foreign interference. 'If everything that was written by your colleagues in the media is taken as accurate, I'm a little bit surprised that there's not something there,' Fadden told host David Cochrane."
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/public-inquiry-chinese-election-interference-1.6764577
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