Former Conservative leadership candidate Patrick Brown to testify on Indian interference allegations
CBC
Former Conservative leadership candidate Patrick Brown will testify later today before a parliamentary committee investigating claims that India has meddled in Canadian politics.
His appearance comes just a few days after Radio-Canada reported, based on confidential sources, that agents of the Indian government attempted to derail Brown's 2022 Conservative Party leadership run.
Sources told Radio-Canada that Brown's national campaign co-chair, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, allegedly was pressured to withdraw her support for Brown in the 2022 leadership race.
"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.
Rempel Garner categorically denies the allegation.
"I left Mr. Brown's campaign completely of my own volition," she said in a written statement.
"In no instance was I coerced in any manner, by anyone, at any time."
Radio-Canada's sources also said campaign volunteers were pressured not to help the campaign and Brown saw invitations to community events rescinded.
There is no evidence to suggest 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.
In a statement issued Monday, Brown — now the mayor of Brampton, Ont. — said the outcome of the Conservative race was not affected by foreign interference.
"Like all Canadians, I take the issue of foreign interference in our democracy very seriously. It is a critical matter that warrants thorough investigation," Brown said in his statement Monday.
"I have no reason to believe that such interference altered the final outcome of the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership race."
The veteran politician initially declined the House of Commons public safety committee's invitation to testify, and was later summoned. Brown is scheduled to testify this afternoon by videoconference.
Brown signalled in his statement that he has little to add to the committee's work.
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