Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue’s federal investigation into foreign interference in Canada began this Monday in Ottawa, in parallel with the resumption of parliamentary work. Judge Marie-Josée Hogue, of the Quebec Court of Appeal, will be tasked with determining whether there was foreign interference during the 2019 and 2021 federal elections — and, if so, the impact that she could have had on these elections.
Last year, reports from the Global network and the daily The Globe and Mail revealed that Beijing diplomats and proxies in Canada allegedly attempted to influence election results in favor of the Liberals.
In her opening speech Monday morning, the commissioner assured that she intended to get “to the bottom of things”.
“My team and I intend to do everything we can to get to the bottom of things and understand what the country may have faced and what it may still be facing in terms of foreign interference,” he said. she declared on the first day of the hearings.
The commission’s mandate states that it must assess possible interference by China, Russia “and other foreign state or non-state actors.” The commission also asked the federal government to produce documents relating to allegations targeting India.
“Don’t have preconceived ideas”
Commissioner Hogue also revealed that she still has not seen the evidence.
“I have discussed with the commission’s lawyers the topics that seem relevant to me, and how the hearings should be conducted, but I have chosen not to participate in the meetings with potential witnesses or in the review of the documents obtained. This is the approach that I chose to ensure that I do not have any preconceived ideas and I will stick to it throughout the work of the Commission,” she explains.
The first week of hearings aims to identify ways to make information from classified documents and sources public.
“The commission faces two significant challenges: the time at its disposal and the fact that the vast majority of documents and information to which it will have access in the course of its work, and on which it will base itself in reaching its conclusions, will likely be so-called “classified” documents,” the commissioner indicated at the opening of her speech.
A first report is scheduled for May 3, and the commissioner’s final report is expected by the end of the year.