Trudeau says he has list of Tories vulnerable to, or engaged in foreign interference

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has refused to get the security clearance necessary to be briefed on a list of people in his party involved in, or vulnerable to, foreign interference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a federal commission of inquiry Wednesday. 

“I have the names of a number of parliamentarians, former parliamentarians and-or candidates in the Conservative Party of Canada who are engaged (in) or at high risk of or for whom there is clear intelligence around foreign interference,” Trudeau said. 

“I have directed CSIS and others to try and inform the Conservative party leader to be warned and armed,” so that Poilievre could make decisions to protect the integrity of the party and guard members against attempts at foreign interference, he said.

Trudeau said Poilievre, however, has opted not to receive classified briefings — a decision that he finds bewildering.

He said it also means nobody can stand up for the people in question if the intelligence is poor, incomplete or simply contains allegations from a single source.

Poilievre has previously defended his choice not to try to obtain a high-level security clearance.

He has said it would prevent him from speaking out about what he has learned in secret briefings. 

The Conservatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Trudeau is testifying as the inquiry finishes the latest phase of its work: a look at how agencies can better detect and combat foreign meddling.

He told a federal inquiry that the world is more uncertain and less safe than ever due to the rise of authoritarian powers determined to sow chaos in democracies like Canada.

He said the answer to the aggression of countries like China and Russia is to reinforce the rule of law and the international order.

Trudeau said might cannot be allowed to triumph over what’s right in the world.

The RCMP and other government officials recently told India its diplomats were persons of interest in several investigations into violent crimes in Canada.

On Monday, Canada ordered six Indian diplomats out of the country, and India swiftly retaliated with the expulsion of Canadian diplomats.