(Ottawa) The office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections is reviewing complaints received in recent weeks about allegations of foreign interference.
“This analysis is in progress as I speak to you,” said Commissioner Caroline Simard on Thursday opening testimony before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
A total of 158 complaints were received about “10 situations” related to the 2019 general elections and 16 complaints about “13 situations” related to those of 2021.
“Since my last appearance on 1er November, allegations of foreign interference circulated in the public environment and led to complaints to my office,” summarized Mr.me Simard.
She assured that the exercise conducted by her office was impartial and independent of the government in power. “I understand the importance of this issue and the need to reassure Canadians in the current exceptional circumstances,” she said.
Asked about the scope of his powers as commissioner, Ms.me Simard mentioned improvements that could be made to this chapter. ” What is missing […]these are the powers of preservation of evidence, of communication, of compelling witnesses to testify, of compelling the production of documents”, she listed.
The commissioner also mentioned that the financial penalties provided for are capped at “clearly insufficient” amounts.
She also clarified that the purpose of the analysis of the complaints received in her office was to determine whether the allegations are founded under the Canada Elections Act. She pointed out that this would not, however, allow her to decide on the validity of electoral results.
The parliamentary committee hearing Mr.me Simard is studying allegations of foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections. The commissioner is one of a series of witnesses who will appear before federal elected officials on Thursday, including the head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), David Vigneault .
Appearing alongside Mme Simard, the chief electoral officer, Stéphane Perrault, mentioned that the questions raised in a recent report by the daily newspaper “The Globe and Mail” were “extremely concerning for our democracy and our sovereignty”.
However, he said he was unable to comment on the accuracy of the article since the information reported was not communicated to him. He nevertheless invited the deputies to consider the report with “a certain caution”.
In recent months, pressure has mounted on Justin Trudeau’s government to provide more information on how Ottawa is responding to threats posed by foreign interference.
A series of reports from the Global Network and The Globe and Mail daily detailed attempts at interference orchestrated by China during the past two federal election campaigns. These allegations were mentioned in anonymous leaks to the media from sources in Canadian security agencies.
The committee heard on Wednesday from the prime minister’s national security adviser, Jody Thomas, and members of a task force who provide officials with information on possible election threats.
On this occasion, NDP MP Peter Julian presented a motion to call for a public inquiry into foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, which the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives also want.
The Bloc, however, put forward their own motion to this effect, which specifies that the appointment of the commissioner responsible for the investigation should occur following an agreement between all the parties.
Both motions are expected to be debated later Thursday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has so far not completely ruled out the possibility of a public, independent inquiry, but hasn’t seemed keen on the idea.
He pointed out that the parliamentary committee’s study is taking place publicly, including testimony from government intelligence advisers.
On Wednesday, he nevertheless said he was “always open to doing more” to reassure Canadians that the institutions are “robust and equipped to counter foreign interference”.
Mr. Trudeau recalled in recent days that his government has established an election monitoring committee and that it has concluded that the integrity of the last two general elections has been preserved despite attempts to interfere.