Trudeau calls into question findings of stunning watchdog foreign interference report

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has concerns with how conclusions were gathered in a spy watchdog report.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has concerns with how conclusions were gathered in a spy watchdog report.

Speaking after the conclusion of the G7 summit in Italy, Trudeau told reporters that he has concerns with the way the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians came to its conclusions that some parliamentarians were “semi-witting or witting” participants in efforts of foreign states to meddle in Canadian politics.

“We made clear some concerns we had with the way that NSCIOP did, drew conclusions,” he said. “I think that is an important part of the process.”

The Prime Minister’s comments echo those of Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc who said last week that the government disagreed with the committee’s interpretation of some of the intelligence. However, it remains unclear exactly what concerns the prime minister has. He would not elaborate Saturday when asked specifically for details about those concerns.

“NSCIOP exists so that parliamentarians from all parties have full access to the work our intelligence agencies are doing,” Trudeau said Saturday. “That’s an important step that wouldn’t have happened if the Conservative party remained in power.”

NSICOP was formed in 2017 as an independent, high-level review body of Canada’s national security and intelligence organization. Its members all hold the highest level of security clearance, and are bound to secrecy under the Security of Information Act. The committee is composed of lawmakers from all major parties, and from members of both the House and the Senate.

Earlier this week the House of Commons voted in favour of a Bloc motion asking Marie-Josée Hogue to expand her foreign interference inquiry to also dig into the committee’s findings and investigate the allegations made against MPs.