No ‘Traitors’ in Parliament Colluding with Foreign States, Public Inquiry Finds
"Although these attempts are troubling and there is some concerning conduct by parliamentarians, there is no cause for widespread alarm," she wrote.
A long-anticipated public inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada has concluded that while some attempts at meddling were detected, there is no evidence to suggest that parliamentarians are working as “traitors” with hostile foreign states. Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue released her final report on Tuesday, offering a detailed assessment of foreign influence on Canada’s democratic system.
Commissioner Hogue’s comprehensive seven-volume report stated that while instances of foreign states attempting to curry favor with Canadian parliamentarians were uncovered, these efforts were “marginal and largely ineffective.”
“Although these attempts are troubling and there is some concerning conduct by parliamentarians, there is no cause for widespread alarm,” she wrote. Hogue also affirmed that there is no evidence to suggest that any parliamentarian owes their election to foreign entities. Furthermore, she noted that no federal laws or policies have been enacted or repealed due to foreign interference.
Her findings come after heightened concerns and debates following a 2023 intelligence report that claimed foreign interference attempts were targeting Canada’s electoral system.
The inquiry included testimony from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who claimed there was intelligence linking several parliamentarians, former lawmakers, and candidates within the Conservative Party of Canada to foreign interference. His statement sparked a fiery response from Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who accused Trudeau of fabricating the claims.
“If Justin Trudeau has evidence to the contrary, he should share it with the public,” Poilievre said. “But he won’t – because he’s making it up.”
Despite the political tension, Hogue’s report found no evidence of criminal actions by lawmakers related to foreign meddling.
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