Ottawa police are investigating a plot to break into the home of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s national security adviser, the second involving one of his top aides in recent months.
Last weekend, police responded to a call about a failed break-in at the home in Ottawa where National Security and Intelligence Adviser Jody Thomas lives. She was in the house at the time.
Neighbors told CTV News that police had arrived in the area hoping to find security camera video of the incident.
Shortly before Christmas, the house in Ottawa where Trudeau’s Chief of Staff, Katie Telford, and her husband lived were also broken into, taking away a number of documents and other items. No one was at home at the time.
The investigation was led by the Ottawa Police Department and at least one officer from the RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) was transcribed in detail.
Ottawa police did not say whether any arrests were made in either case and said more details could only be obtained by filing a request under the Freedom of Information and Protection Act. Privacy by the City, a process that often takes months.
In a city where about 2,500 break-ins are reported to police each year, there is no indication that the adviser has been specifically targeted or that the two incidents are related, but both lead to to increased security.
Last night, a guard from a private security company could be seen guarding the exterior of one of the houses.
While the prime minister, and sometimes his ministers, are protected by the RCMP, their staff often do not have their own confidential information.
The two advisers have been the subject of high levels of public scrutiny over the past year. Both testified at the Public Order Emergency Committee about the government’s use of the Emergencies Act to end the “Liberty Convoy” protests.
Thomas also testified at a congressional committee that is looking into allegations of foreign interference in Canadian elections.
Telford is the subject of a motion calling for her to testify on the same subject before the House Home Affairs and Procedures Committee. Although Liberal MPs on the committee opposed forcing her to testify, she later agreed and will appear in the coming weeks.
Telford is Trudeau’s top aide and has worked closely with him since he launched his Liberal leadership campaign in 2012.
Thomas, a former deputy defense minister, was appointed in early 2022 and is responsible for reporting to the prime minister on intelligence and national security matters.
