(Ottawa) The Prime Minister’s national security and intelligence advisor says breaking or relaxing rules that protect ministerial secrecy in an effort to respond to allegations of foreign interference would be a victory for bad actors trying to to interfere in Canadian politics.
Nathalie Drouin testified Thursday before a House of Commons committee, alongside the Minister of Democratic Institutions, Dominic LeBlanc.
Opposition parties wanted to ask the Liberal government how many documents it was refusing to disclose to the inquiry into foreign interference – and precisely for what reasons.
Minister LeBlanc and Mr.me Drouin both explained Thursday to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs that the investigation led by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue had received four lengthy memos. But neither would say how many other Cabinet documents had been withheld, by virtue of the secrecy of ministerial deliberations.
Conservative MP Michael Cooper said it was “staggering” that this government, which promised to be open and transparent with the Hogue commission, is now refusing to provide the documents the judge says she needs to complete her work.
Mme Drouin indicated that this was not a partisan matter, but rather a question of protecting the democratic tools that allow governments to govern.