Canada Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Director David Vigneault said Thursday that the integrity of Canada's 2019 and 2021 elections were not compromised by China.."Based on my information and based on my experience, I would say that I concur with that conclusion,” Vigneault said when asked by Liberal MP Sherry Romanado if he agreed the election results had not been compromised..Following reports that the Chinese Communist Party attempted to influence Canada's elections, including by directly supporting Liberal MP Han Dong in the 2019 election, a Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs has been investigating the issue..Vigneault told the committee that CSIS takes foreign interference seriously, adding that he often briefs Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other ministers on the issue..Vigneault said the principle threat to Canada does not come from the Chinese people, "but rather from the Chinese Communist Party and the government of China." He said CSIS is "keenly aware" that Chinese communities are often the victims of CCP foreign interference campaigns in Canada..According to Vigneault, CSIS also takes the release of classified information very seriously, as compromises that reveal sensitive sources or techniques can threaten the integrity of the force's operations.."Ultimately, such releases can hinder our ability to protect Canadians. Therefore, I would like to remind the committee that just as with other recent appearances in front of PROC and other committees here, I am limited in what we can say in an unclassified setting," he said.."CSIS is prohibited from commenting on operational matters and classified information in order to protect the safety and security of Canadians.".Vigneault stayed true to his word throughout the committee, refusing to answer several questions from MPs on whether recent reporting on Chinese election interference was accurate. On Wednesday, National Security and Intelligence Advisor Jody Thomas also refused to confirm whether the reporting on Chinese interference in Canadian elections was accurate, saying she would not comment on information that was "inappropriately obtained.".READ MORE: Trudeau's national advisor refuses to comment on accuracy of election interference reporting.When asked by Liberal MP Greg Fergus about the possibility of setting up a registry to track foreign agents who are engaging in political activity, similar to what the United States and Australia has, Vigneault said such a tool would be useful. "It wouldn't solve all our problems, but it would increase transparency," he said..Under questioning by Conservative MP Raquel Dancho, Vigneault confirmed that CSIS have not received any "actionable intelligence" that spurred them to initiate a criminal investigation into election interference. Vigneault also said no charges have been laid in regard to Beijing police stations operating across Canada, but said the RCMP has taken "overt action on four different sites.".Vigneault also told MPs that CSIS is investigating the leaks to the media about alleged Chinese interference. "The bread and butter of a intelligence organization is our ability to collect secrets, keep secrets and use those secrets with the appropriate people," he said.."When that ability is threatened, it undermines the confidence of our partners domestically and internationally. And this is something we take very seriously."
