The federal Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc, accuses Conservative MPs of playing theater when they press the government to disclose the names of MPs who have allegedly participated in foreign interference activities.
A parliamentary intelligence oversight committee concluded in a report released this week that “certain MPs” had “knowingly assisted” “foreign state actors” to interfere in Canadian politics.
The shock report sparked concerns that lawmakers allegedly involved in foreign interference activities may still be in active politics. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre asked the Liberal government on Wednesday to disclose the identity of these elected officials.
Conservative members of the Commons Standing Committee on Public Security and National Security contested Thursday Minister LeBlanc’s explanations regarding the government’s refusal to reveal their identities.
“Do you believe Canadians have the right to know, yes or no? » Conservative MP Frank Caputo asked the minister.
The Minister of Public Security and Democratic Institutions, who is therefore responsible for investigations into foreign interference, repeated Thursday that intelligence service reports could contain unverified information that did not offer a complete picture of the situation .
“An isolated piece of the puzzle, an intelligence source or piece of information, may not have context, may be discredited or altered by subsequent information,” he argued. So the idea that there is a perfect, completely reliable list of names that should be made public is simply irresponsible. »
Mr. LeBlanc also clarified that it was up to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to investigate and lay charges if warranted, because that is how things work in a democracy based on the rule of law.
He also added that Congressman Caputo was engaging in bad theater.
Worried organizations
The tough discussions took place as committee members met Thursday to hear Minister LeBlanc and other witnesses on a vast government bill aimed precisely at countering foreign interference.
Bill C-70, tabled in the House early last month, includes various measures aimed at deterring, investigating and punishing foreign interference.
It contains new criminal provisions against “deceptive or surreptitious acts”, would allow broader sharing of sensitive information and would establish a “register aimed at transparency in matters of foreign influence”.
The committee says its members must present proposed amendments to the bill by Friday afternoon, in preparation for clause-by-clause consideration early next week.
In a letter to the committee on Thursday, 14 civil society organizations expressed “deep concerns” that MPs are wrapping up hearings on the bill after only about a week.
The organizations warned that the unusually rapid parliamentary study of Bill C-70 could result in lame laws that violate the fundamental rights of Canadians.
The letter was signed in particular by the League of Rights and Freedoms, the English-speaking Canadian section of Amnesty International, the Canadian Association of University Professors, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian Council on Muslim Public Affairs and the National Council of Canadian Muslims.
“We recognize the importance of combating harassment, threats and violence against people, including when carried out by foreign governments in order to repress the exercise of fundamental rights or engagement in democratic processes,” reads -on in the joint letter.
“However, the changes proposed by C-70 go much further. If passed, this bill would make significant changes to Canada’s national security, intelligence and criminal justice systems, in addition to creating a registry of foreign influence of considerable, if uncertain, scope. »
As a result, the bill will have significant effects on the lives and fundamental rights of Canadians, “including risks of increased surveillance, diminished privacy, limits on freedom of expression and freedom of association, racial, religious and political profiling, and undermining due process in court through the use of secret “evidence,” the letter adds.
“The result is that organizations and individuals who have requested to appear or who have submitted written submissions will not be able to do so at such short notice. Developing specific amendments to propose by Friday’s deadline is nearly impossible. »