Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said on Wednesday that the government would not direct the upcoming public inquiry on foreign interference to look into activities by Indian agents..According to Blacklock’s Reporter, LeBlanc stated the alleged involvement of India in the shooting of an activist from Surrey, BC, should be handled by the police..“What we’re doing is ensuring that there’s an appropriate criminal investigation into these circumstances,” said LeBlanc. .“I think commenting further will prevent the RCMP from doing the important work they have to do.”.“I am not going to answer questions about what the RCMP investigation is looking into,” said LeBlanc..On Monday, the government said they had “credible allegations” that foreign agents linked to the Indian Embassy played a part in the shooting and death of Sikh nationalist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18..On the same day that the government made their announcement, Justice Marie-Josée Hogue from the Québec Court of Appeal started her investigation into claims that Chinese agents allegedly interfered in two federal elections..Minister LeBlanc told reporters that the two issues had nothing to do with each other..“Should India be added to the inquiry into foreign interference?” asked a reporter. .“We don’t need to add India,” replied LeBlanc..“In the terms of reference, it talks about Russia, China, other state and non-state actors. We contemplated in the discussions throughout the summer with my opposition colleagues that Commissioner Hogue should be able to follow the evidence and not only focus on those two countries but go to other countries.”.“Are you saying it is possible India is already part of this?” asked a reporter. .“I can’t speak for Commissioner Hogue,” replied LeBlanc..Terms of reference for Justice Hogue’s public investigation under the Inquiries Act state she is to “examine and assess interference by China, Russia and other foreign states or non-state actors including any potential impacts in order to confirm the integrity of the 43rd and 44th general elections in the national and electoral district levels” in 2019 and 2021. An initial report is due February 19, 2024..A second report due in 2025 is to “examine and assess the capacity of relevant federal departments, agencies, institutional structures and governance processes to permit the Government of Canada to detect, deter and counter any form of foreign interference directly or indirectly targeting Canada’s democratic processes,” according to a September 7 cabinet order..“Commissioner Hogue started Monday,” said LeBlanc. .“She will be setting up her inquiry. But we deliberately designed, with the opposition parties, an inquiry that could follow the evidence and look at countries other than Russia and China.”
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said on Wednesday that the government would not direct the upcoming public inquiry on foreign interference to look into activities by Indian agents..According to Blacklock’s Reporter, LeBlanc stated the alleged involvement of India in the shooting of an activist from Surrey, BC, should be handled by the police..“What we’re doing is ensuring that there’s an appropriate criminal investigation into these circumstances,” said LeBlanc. .“I think commenting further will prevent the RCMP from doing the important work they have to do.”.“I am not going to answer questions about what the RCMP investigation is looking into,” said LeBlanc..On Monday, the government said they had “credible allegations” that foreign agents linked to the Indian Embassy played a part in the shooting and death of Sikh nationalist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18..On the same day that the government made their announcement, Justice Marie-Josée Hogue from the Québec Court of Appeal started her investigation into claims that Chinese agents allegedly interfered in two federal elections..Minister LeBlanc told reporters that the two issues had nothing to do with each other..“Should India be added to the inquiry into foreign interference?” asked a reporter. .“We don’t need to add India,” replied LeBlanc..“In the terms of reference, it talks about Russia, China, other state and non-state actors. We contemplated in the discussions throughout the summer with my opposition colleagues that Commissioner Hogue should be able to follow the evidence and not only focus on those two countries but go to other countries.”.“Are you saying it is possible India is already part of this?” asked a reporter. .“I can’t speak for Commissioner Hogue,” replied LeBlanc..Terms of reference for Justice Hogue’s public investigation under the Inquiries Act state she is to “examine and assess interference by China, Russia and other foreign states or non-state actors including any potential impacts in order to confirm the integrity of the 43rd and 44th general elections in the national and electoral district levels” in 2019 and 2021. An initial report is due February 19, 2024..A second report due in 2025 is to “examine and assess the capacity of relevant federal departments, agencies, institutional structures and governance processes to permit the Government of Canada to detect, deter and counter any form of foreign interference directly or indirectly targeting Canada’s democratic processes,” according to a September 7 cabinet order..“Commissioner Hogue started Monday,” said LeBlanc. .“She will be setting up her inquiry. But we deliberately designed, with the opposition parties, an inquiry that could follow the evidence and look at countries other than Russia and China.”
