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Foreign interference: June elections to be watched

OTTAWA –

The federal government said the Task Force on Intelligence and Security Threats will closely monitor the by-elections in four waves next month for signs of interference.

Votings will be held on June 19 at Notre-Dame-de-Grace–Westmount, Oxford, Portage–Lisgar and Winnipeg South Centre.

The task force, known as SITE, is expected to provide regular assessments of threats of foreign intervention to a committee of deputy ministers, who will brief Cabinet members if needed.

SITE was also tasked with preparing two reports — one classified and one unclassified — on any attempt to interfere in the by-elections.

The measures come in response to growing concerns about China’s alleged efforts to interfere in the past two federal elections and accusations that Beijing tried to intimidate members of Congress and their families.

Conservative MP Michael Chong will testify tonight at the House procedures committee about a CSIS report alleging a Chinese diplomat tried to intimidate him about his stance on the dossier. China’s human rights.

Chong told the House of Commons that Jody Thomas, the prime minister’s national security adviser, had told him the 2021 CSIS report had been sent to the Privy Council Office and relevant government agencies.

But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other ministers insist they were not aware of the assessment until the Globe and Mail reported it.

The Prime Minister has tasked former governor David Johnston with determining what the government’s next steps should be to address foreign interference.

He is expected to tell the government by May 23 if he believes a public inquiry or some other form of investigation is needed.


This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 16, 2023.



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