Tuesday 21 March 2023

Trudeau's chief of staff Katie Telford to testify at committee probing Chinese government interference

 

Trudeau's chief of staff Katie Telford to testify at committee probing Chinese government interference

Conservative motion will be voted on later today

"While there are serious constraints on what can be said in public about sensitive intelligence matters, in an effort to make Parliament work, [Katie] Telford has agreed to appear at the procedure and House affairs committee as part of their study," says a Tuesday statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

The decision clears a logjam at the procedure and House affairs committee (PROC), where Liberal MPs have been filibustering over the past two weeks to stall a vote on calling Telford to appear.

The committee resumed Tuesday morning.

WATCH Telford a 'critical witness,' says Conservative MP:

Katie Telford is 'a critical witness' on election interference: Conservative MP

Duration 0:41
St-Albert Edmonton Conservative MP Michael Cooper introduced a motion to force the prime minister's Chief of Staff Katie Telford to testify at committee on election interference.

Committee member and Conservative MP Michael Cooper, who first floated the motion, has called Telford "a critical witness to get to the heart of this scandal."

"Namely, what does the prime minister know, when did he learn about it, and what did he do, or fail to do, about Beijing's election interference?" he said Monday.

Public and political interest in foreign election interference has intensified since the Globe and Mail alleged that China tried to ensure that the Liberals won a minority government in the last general election. The newspaper also published reports saying Beijing worked to defeat Conservative candidates who were critical of China.

Back in the fall, Global News reported that intelligence officials warned Trudeau that China's consulate in Toronto floated cash to at least 11 federal election candidates "and numerous Beijing operatives" who worked as campaign staffers.

Trudeau has repeatedly said he was never been briefed about federal candidates receiving money from China.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) calls foreign interference activities by the Chinese government the "greatest strategic threat to national security."

An independent panel tasked with overseeing the 2021 election did detect attempts at interference but concluded that foreign meddling did not affect the outcome.

A separate motion will be voted on later today in the House of Commons calling for Telford to testify before another committee — the standing committee on access to information, privacy and ethics — no later than April 14, and to answer questions for three hours regarding China's alleged efforts to interfere in Canadian elections.

Trudeau said the vote will not be a vote of confidence in his minority government, pushing off speculation about an early election for the time being.

The motion, moved by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, also invites a number of a cabinet ministers and officials to testify, including Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino and Canadian Security Intelligence Service director David Vigneault.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catharine Tunney is a reporter with CBC's Parliament Hill bureau, where she covers national security and the RCMP. She worked previously for CBC in Nova Scotia. You can reach her at catharine.tunney@cbc.ca

 
 
 
 
1469 Comments
 
 
 
 
Jeff Laidlaw 
It's a confidence matter to me
Any government that would filibuster oversight into national security issues will never have my confidence or vote ever again.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Jeff Laidlaw 
Good for you  
 
 
 
 
 
Pete Gingras 
Looks like Singh grew a pair and called Trudeaus bluff last night. Warm up those vocals, Katie.  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Pete Gingras
Dream on  
 
 
 
 
 
Boyd Payne 
Don't worry Trudeau, I have 0 confidence in you and your Liberals.  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Boyd Payne 
Does anyone?  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Archie Levesque 
Did you know, that if you dont believe exactly everything the Liberals want you to you are now considered a "Flat Earther"? 
 
 
 Steve Saunders 
Reply to Archie Levesque
I'd rather be called a flat earther than a liberal any day of the week...   
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Steve Saunders
Me Too 
 
 
 
 
 
scott barclay
Summary: Jag has agreed to vote against it, so there is no need to make it a confidence vote.  
 
 
Robert Colpitts
Reply to scott barclay  
Jagmeet Singh just announced he will support the Conservative motion this afternoon if the Liberals do not stop their filibuster in committee immediately, as in right now. The committee is meeting now. So by the end of today, Telford will be on a list to testify. 
 
 
scott barclay
Reply to Robert Colpitts
Good news. So that's why its not a nonconfidence vote.  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to scott barclay
Methinks most folks would have loved to witness a nonconfidence vote today N'esy Pas?


 

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