The RCMP yesterday said it did not conduct any criminal investigation of alleged Chinese interference in the 2019 federal election. According to Blacklock's Reporter, members of the House affairs committee said the testimony was not reassuring amid repeated claims of illegality..“Where is the transparency?” said Conservative MP Michael Cooper (St. Albert-Edmonton, AB). Cooper said there was “no evidence concrete action has been taken” to settle questions of interference once and for all..“It is well established interference has been ongoing, but no one has been charged let alone convicted,” said Cooper. “In the face of that, having these general conversations about foreign interference really doesn’t seem to address the fundamental issue.”.Lisa Ducharme, acting director general of national intelligence at the RCMP, testified there were “active investigations into foreign interference activities.” She would not disclose if any were related to federal elections..“Can you confirm there are ongoing RCMP criminal investigations respecting foreign interference arising from the 2019 and 2021 elections?” asked MP Cooper. “I can confirm there were no criminal investigations into the 2019 election,” replied Ducharme..“That being said, there are active investigations into foreign actor interference activities at any given time, multiple investigations,” said Ducharme. “With respect to the 2021 election, I am unable to respond whether there are active investigations into the election at this time.”.“So there are active criminal investigations pertaining to interference in the electoral process, is that correct?” asked Cooper. “I am unable to respond whether there are investigations into federal election issues,” replied Ducharme..Global News last November 7 quoted anonymous sources indicating Chinese Communist agents ran a “vast campaign of foreign interference” targeting 11 candidates in the 2019 campaign. The network on Wednesday reported staff in the Prime Minister’s Office circulated a 2017 memo stating foreign agents were “assisting candidates” using Chinese-Canadian fronts..The allegations “are really uncorroborated and really unvalidated as fact,” Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull (Whitby, ON) said yesterday..Adam Fisher, director general of intelligence assessments at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, told the House affairs committee his agency investigated all suspicious activity. “When we see foreign influence activity that’s enough for us,” said Fisher. “That engages our mandate. That engages an investigation.”.“Has any candidate in this country been affected directly by foreign interference in the last two elections for any Party?” asked Conservative MP Blaine Calkins (Red Deer-Lacombe, Alta.). “We can’t speak to specific ridings, specific candidates,” replied Director General Fisher..“I am very, very frustrated right now with the lack of information, the lack of transparency, and the responsibility of trying to figure out how to solve this problem as a policy maker and as somebody who votes,” said Calkins..New Democrat MP Rachel Blaney (North Island-Powell River, BC) also expressed frustration. “We know China and other foreign actors have had involvement in Canada’s politics and having been going on for quite a long time, trying to interfere,” said Blaney..“That is very concerning,” said Blaney. “We saw in the 2019 election there were some pretty profound things that happened. We are hearing there hasn’t been an impact on elections but I think people’s fear is growing. That really concerns me.”
