Before election, feds urged classified briefings for opposition leaders

The internal memo says the proposed briefings would ensure security-cleared leaders are offered an 'intelligence-informed understanding' of the threats facing Canadians.

A newly released memo shows federal officials recommended almost a year ago that leaders of major opposition parties receive regular classified briefings — not only on foreign interference but also violent extremism and overseas conflicts.

The internal memo says the proposed briefings, to be co-ordinated by the Privy Council Office, would ensure security-cleared leaders, as well as designated alternates, are offered an “intelligence-informed understanding” of the threats facing Canadians.

The PCO, the federal unit that supports the prime minister, recently released the memo to The Canadian Press in response to an Access to Information request filed last year.

It comes as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre continues to face questions on the campaign trail about his refusal to seek the top secret-level clearance necessary to receive such briefings.

The May 10, 2024, memo to then-prime minister Justin Trudeau from national security and intelligence adviser Nathalie Drouin says the briefings would take place under a protocol drafted by the PCO.

“The protocol stipulates that briefings be provided on a need to know basis and that they could be either general in nature to raise awareness on a key issue (i.e. the Russia-Ukraine conflict) or more specific to a national security threat faced by a political party,” the memo says.

“The purpose of all briefings, whether general or specific, is to ensure party leaders have access to the information required to support their decision making as head of a major political party and in the national interest of Canada.”

Party leaders who accept the offer of briefings would need to go through a top secret-level security clearance process. The memo cautions the outcome of the process “cannot be predetermined.”