The Liberals are refusing to say which federal politicians “wittingly” cooperated with foreign interference schemes after an explosive new report.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland faced repeated questions about the National Security and Intelligence Committee’s (NSICOP) findings, that parliamentarians are “witting or semi-witting” participants in foreign interference, including revealing secrets to foreign states.
When asked Tuesday whether Canadians have a right to know who these parliamentarians are, Freeland dodged the question.
“Let me just say this, we take foreign interference really, really seriously,” she said. “It needs to be law enforcement that takes the steps and takes the action.”
Other ministers were also pressed on their way into cabinet Tuesday morning about why the federal government is not “naming names.”
“Usually, these things would play out in a different forum, that is protected by the processes, that affords an opportunity for a person to make a defence,” said Housing Minister Sean Fraser.
He also pointed to “national security considerations” as reasons why more information can’t be disclosed.
The NSICOP report outlined several activities involving elected officials collaborating with countries like China and India, including accepting money or favours from diplomats.
In one of the most serious examples of foreign interference, a parliamentarian allegedly passed on confidential government information to a “known intelligence officer of a foreign state.”
Justice Minister Arif Virani was asked whether he would like to know the identity of parliamentarians facing allegations of colluding with hostile states.
