REAL Women has always spoken on issues that affect the safety and well-being of Canadian families. For this reason we have been deeply concerned about the Special Report on Foreign Interference in Canada’s Democratic Processes and Institutions, made public on June 3, 2024.  The Special Report tells a disturbing story of foreign influence and collusion between a number of MPs and Senators (and by implication political parties) and foreign powers, mostly Communist China and India.  What is particularly shocking is the Special Report’s consistent reference to this influence and collusion being present at all levels of government in Canada.

The Special Report was prepared by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) which is composed of 4 Liberal MPs, 2 Conservative MPs, 1 Bloc MP, 1 NDP MP, and 3 Senators.  This Committee reviewed security intelligence reports covering a number of years. The precise reports reviewed were not disclosed.

Alarming Behaviours by Politicians

The Special Report cited alarming behaviors of some MPs and Senators including: accepting money from foreign governments; communicating frequently with foreign governments to obtain support from community groups or businesses that foreign diplomats have promised to mobilize to help their campaigns; providing foreign diplomats with privileged information on fellow parliamentarians knowing that this information would be used to put pressure on their colleagues to change their position; lobbying colleagues or influencing parliamentary business to help a foreign state; and leaking confidential information to known intelligence officers of foreign states.

The Special Report makes clear that the government was aware as far back as 2018 there were serious foreign threats to interference in Canada’s democratic processes and institutions and that the government had a copy of the unredacted Special Report since March 2024.  Yet despite this awareness, Trudeau and his government have done nothing to address the problem.

This may be because the Liberals were benefitting from this behaviour, i.e., the system was going their way. They would have put a stop to it quickly if it had been the Conservatives who were benefiting from it.  As stated by journalist Terry Glavin (National Post, June 16th, 2024).

“Justin Trudeau has been a one-man Chinese influence operation for years, and he hasn’t even tried to hide it.  Nevermind his weird cash-for-access arrangements with multimillionaire proxies of the Chinese government, the unaccountable serendipity of $67,080 in Mandarin-bloc donations replenishing the war chest of his own Papineau riding in Montreal in a single 48-hour period in July 2016, and other such indiscretions.”

Liberals Refuse to Release Names

At a press conference on June 6, 2024, Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs refused to release the names of the offending Parliamentarians on the basis that disclosing too much information would be damaging to the Intelligence Agencies whose information would be interpreted without the necessary “context”.  Further, he stated “it was a matter of principle not to release the names, as it was unwise to speak about specific elements that may involve individuals.”

In effect, the Liberal government was, as is its customary practice, ignoring the public’s concerns and treating it as an ignorant unwashed mass which should not question its “betters” i.e. the Liberal government.

Public Is Entitled to Know

The public is entitled to know which MP or senator is betraying us to the foreign countries or otherwise involved in shady unethical behaviour.  Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer wrote to Public Safety Minister LeBlanc on June 9, 2024 stating “the integrity of our Parliament has been rocked by the findings of the special report”. Mr. Scheer further wrote, “if Canadians are to continue to have faith in their federal democratic institutions, they need to know who has broken their oath and betrayed their trust.”  This report has only increased the growing mistrust Canadians have of the government.

Opposition Parties Unite Against the Government

The Bloc Quebecois brought a motion before Parliament on June 10, which requested the terms of reference of the Foreign Interference Commission (the Hogue Commission) be expanded to allow it to investigate Canada’s federal democratic institutions, and current and former members of the House of Commons and Senate. The Hogue Commission, headed by Quebec Court of Appeal Judge Marie-Josée Hogue, was established in September of 2023 to examine and assess the interference by foreign states or non-state actors, in order to confirm the integrity of, and any impacts on the 2019 and 2021 elections.  Hogue’s final report is to be completed by the end of this year. The motion was passed on June 11, 2024 by all parties, with the exception of the Greens.

Further Points Revealed by the Special Report

  • Canada lacks the investigative, prosecutorial skill set and legal framework to successfully prosecute this type of behaviour.
  • Communist China and India are identified as the most active perpetrators – although Communist China is the most prominent aggressor.
  • There has been a massive failure of politicians and bureaucrats to respond to the threats being posed by this interference.
  • Some political parties are more “vulnerable” than others, but no party is safe.
  • The Special Report is the tip of the iceberg—political corruption always runs deep, especially where foreign intelligence services are involved.

Most importantly, what the Special Report tells us is that the current political culture in Ottawa, as well as in other parts of the country, is one of corruption and incompetence due to some individuals not only co-operating with foreign interference, but actively encouraging it.

It should not be surprising that some of our politicians are collaborating with foreign countries under a government led by Justin Trudeau.  He has shown himself lacking in moral and ethical guardrails.  This is evidenced by his several ethical breaches: his Christmas visit to the Aga Khan’s private island; providing contracts without tender to his favourites; the WE Charity and SNC Lavalin scandals; decriminalization of marijuana even though Canada had signed UN Treaties opposing this; ignoring constitutional principles by directly interfering in matters that are solely under provincial jurisdiction.  Trudeau’s violation of legal, constitutional and ethical boundaries is a common thread throughout his time in power.

Until the culture changes, legislative changes will not have any impact on the problem.  The beginning of culture change starts by admitting we have a political ethics problem in this country which is characterized by corruption and incompetence.  Without recognizing the problem, there will be no change.