RCMP ‘aware’ of intelligence related to foreign interference and parliamentarians

The police force would not confirm nor deny active investigations into parliamentarians after allegations federal politicians are engaged in foreign interference.

Canada’s national police force says it is “aware” of a “broad” range of intelligence looking into parliamentarians allegedly working with foreign governments.

The RCMP’s statement comes two days after a stunning report by the federal national security committee of parliamentarians alleging sitting federal politicians have “wittingly” participated in foreign interference operations.

“The RCMP can confirm there are investigations into a broad range of foreign interference in Canada, including matters which intersect with democratic institutions,” the statement, sent late Wednesday afternoon, read.

The RCMP statement added they were not aware of all of the specific allegations contained in the committee’s report.

“The RCMP will not provide comment whether there is an active criminal investigation into any parliamentarian. The RCMP has spoken publicly about the problem of foreign interference and believe more public attention to this matter is necessary.”

At the same time, the Mounties said, they must exercise “significant caution” in speaking publicly about ongoing investigations that have “the potential to cause damage to reputations prior to meeting an appropriate level of proof” or interfere with the probes.

On Monday, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) made the stunning allegations that current federal politicians are “wittingly or semi-wittingly” working with foreign governments to interfere in Canadian politics.

“Some (of the activities) may be illegal, but are unlikely to lead to criminal charges, owing to Canada’s failure to address the long-standing issue of protecting classified information and methods in judicial processes,” the report read.