Liberals have not 'turned a blind eye' to foreign election interference, campaign lead tells MPs

Testifying before the House of Commons committee studying foreign election interference, Liberal Party National Director Azam Ishmael said the party has not 'turned a blind eye' to the issue. Conservative campaign leads are now speaking to their experiences during the 2019 and 2021 campaigns.

Testifying before the House of Commons committee studying foreign election interference, Liberal Party National Director Azam Ishmael said the party has not "turned a blind eye" to the issue.

"At no time during my tenure as national director has the Liberal Party of Canada knowingly accepted support from, or turned a blind eye to interference in a Canadian election by any foreign state. We have not tacitly accepted the help of any foreign state, nor have we encouraged it," Ishmael told MPs on the Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC).

Ishmael, who was the party's 2021 campaign director, said he is limited in what he can reveal due to national security implications and, candidly, because of his lack of recollection of all discussions he was party to during the election period. Nevertheless, he said he was confident in the party's protocols.

"The Liberal Party of Canada has extensive compliance measures in place to ensure strict adherence to the Canada Elections Act and other applicable laws by our candidates, nomination contestants and campaign teams," he said. "We also have rules governing the conduct of nomination campaigns and party processes in order to build confidence in the public's participation in the political process at every stage." 

Ishmael suggested the Liberal Party is not alone in being unable to speak to the actions of every one of its campaign volunteers, workers or supporters, but said he was proud of the work done by his party to protect Canadian democratic institutions during and between elections.

He said all political parties "have a role to play" in preventing foreign interference in federal elections.

In his testimony Tuesday, senior adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the party's 2019 national campaign director Jeremy Broadhurst echoed Ishmael.