Agents of Indian government interfered in Patrick Brown's Conservative leadership campaign: sources

Agents of the Indian government allegedly attempted to derail Patrick Brown's campaign for the leadership of the Conservative Party in 2022, according to sources who spoke to Radio-Canada.

Brown's national campaign co-chair, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, allegedly was pressured to withdraw her support for Brown in the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership race, confidential sources told Radio-Canada.

Rempel Garner categorically denies the allegation.

Radio-Canada has no evidence indicating that Pierre Poilievre, now the Conservative leader, was aware of the alleged actions of India's agents. He handily won the 2022 leadership race on the first ballot with 68 per cent of the available points.

Radio-Canada spoke separately with five people who were closely involved in Brown's leadership campaign. Brown is mayor of Brampton, Ont. and a former leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party.

The sources provided specific examples of what they said was pressure exerted by Indian consular agents in Canada to harm Brown's candidacy.

Sources said campaign workers were told by representatives of the government of India to stop supporting Brown, not to sell membership cards for him and not to invite him to certain events.

Radio-Canada granted the sources confidentiality because they say they fear for their safety.

The RCMP announced in October they have evidence that agents of the Indian government were involved in serious criminal activity in Canada, including murders and extortion.

Brown has been summoned to appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security looking into "electoral interference and criminal activities in Canada by agents of the Government of India."

Allegations of interference in the Conservative Party leadership race involving a Conservative member of Parliament were first reported on last year by the Baaz News Organization, a media outlet for the Sikh community in Canada.

"At least one Member of Parliament was visited by representatives of an Indian Consulate in Canada [who] urged the MP to pull their support for Patrick Brown during the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leadership race," the outlet reported in December 2023. The report did not identify the MP.

According to Radio-Canada's sources, the Conservative MP in question is Michelle Rempel Garner of Calgary Nose Hill.

"Indian consulate representatives had approached Michelle, strongly suggesting that it was not in her best interest to continue working alongside Patrick," said a highly-placed source in Brown's campaign.