(Ottawa) The head of a federal inquiry into foreign interference said the government told her it would be necessary for some evidence to be presented behind closed doors.
In a notice published Friday, Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue says the government will have the burden of convincing her that the disclosure of such evidence to participants in the investigation or to the public could endanger national security.
If Mme Hogue and the commission’s lawyers are not convinced by the government’s arguments, she will demand that the evidence be presented in public hearings.
However, if she agrees to a closed hearing, a summary of the evidence presented will be prepared for public disclosure.
Mme Hogue says that if the government and the commission disagree on the need to keep certain information secret, she will inform the government of her intention to release it.
The government will then have the option of taking the dispute to the Federal Court.