Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet confirmed on Wednesday that he will not obtain the security clearance necessary to be able to read sensitive information that led the special rapporteur on foreign interference, David Johnston, to decide. against a public inquiry.
Thus becoming the second leader of an opposition party to rule out the option after the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, Mr. Blanchet maintained that he made this choice because he is facing “a trap”. He was referring to the obligation of secrecy in perpetuity that comes with the so-called “top secret” security clearance.
“The trap is to say ‘you’ll see everything, you won’t be able to say anything (and) you won’t be able to do anything with it,'” he said in a scrum in Ottawa.
In his opinion, this will give free rein to Justin Trudeau’s Liberals to “strut around saying ‘We showed them everything to the opposition leaders'”. “It’s really taking the world for nonos,” continued Mr. Blanchet.
When a journalist asked him to clarify whether he was therefore answering no to the opportunity to have the security clearance, he said that “that sounds like a ‘no'”.
In his report released on Tuesday, Mr. Johnston recommends that the leaders of the three opposition parties obtain this “top secret” security clearance in order to be able to consult a confidential appendix to his report containing information relating to national security. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he, in response to this recommendation, sent an invitation to party leaders.
According to Mr. Johnston, completing the process would allow party leaders to “observe” the work behind closed doors of the Committee of Parliamentarians on National Security and Intelligence (CPSNR). This group of senators and MPs from all major parties will review sensitive information, at the request of Mr. Johnston to which Mr. Trudeau acquiesced.
The objective defended by the special rapporteur is that parliamentarians can say, having consulted the intelligence elements, if they arrive at the same conclusions as him or not.
All members of the CPSNR hold a Top Secret security clearance and are permanently bound to secrecy.
Mr. Poilievre already had this rating when he was minister, but it has expired since it is only granted for a period of five years.
“Regarding any proposal that [M. Johnston] to silence me, the answer is ”no”, I will not be muzzled,” said the Conservative leader on Tuesday during a visit to Quebec.
In a press briefing on Wednesday in Toronto, he reiterated that his party wants a public and independent investigation into the interference, like the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party (NDP).
For Mr. Trudeau, there is no doubt that Mr. Poilievre’s refusal demonstrates “his lack of seriousness”.
“Is it leadership to choose ignorance so that you can continue unfounded attacks rather than seriously engage on an issue as important as (foreign) interference? “, he launched from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said on Tuesday that he intended to obtain security clearance and thus access sensitive information, while insisting on the request for a public and independent investigation.