OTAWA –
Conservative MP Michael Chong is urging a federal inquiry to refrain from drawing definitive conclusions about the integrity of the last two general elections, saying it is too early to do so.
The inquiry commission recently concluded hearings into possible foreign interference by China, India, Russia and others in the 2019 and 2021 general elections, and will submit an initial report on May 3.
Chong’s written submission, made public on Wednesday, is among 18 submissions from various participants. The presentations summarize positions on the evidence heard to date and provide advice to inquiry leader Marie-Josee Hogue as she prepares her interim report.
Chong says the commission can now reach some general conclusions, including about possible interference directed at him.
But on the question of electoral integrity, he says the inquiry needs to hear additional testimony from diaspora communities, whose campaign experiences in 2019 and 2021 could have a significant effect on the commission’s conclusions.
The commission should also wait to hear from two intelligence watchdogs, which are conducting their own reviews regarding foreign interference in federal election processes, Chong says.
A report from the Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and National Security was recently presented to federal ministers. A declassified version will be presented to Parliament within 30 days.
The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency, an independent third-party review body, has also provided a classified report to the government. He is preparing a version that will be presented to Parliament.
It is not clear whether the commission of inquiry has access to the conclusions of the two watchdogs.
The commission’s conclusions on the elections, as well as recommendations emerging from the first phase of its work, should be included in its final report, expected by the end of the year, Chong says.
“No recommendations can and should not be made in your interim report,” his writing says.
However, Chong says the commission can and should conclude in its first report that China was the most sophisticated and active threat agent of foreign interference in the two elections, and that the main target of Beijing’s disinformation was the Conservative Party.
Over 10 days of hearings, the inquiry heard that China and other state actors attempted to interfere, but there was little evidence to indicate whether those efforts were successful.
The New Democratic Party’s written submission advocates for changes to ensure political parties receive timely and ongoing information about meddling.
The NDP also suggests giving each political party a personalized briefing on foreign interference before each general and by-election.
In its submission to the inquiry, the federal government maintains that Canada was well positioned to detect foreign interference activity in the 2019 and 2021 elections and act as necessary.
None of these activities “threatened the integrity of or affected the outcome of those elections, whether at the national level or at the leadership level,” the filing says.
Awareness about the risk from threat actors was generated through timely communications between the government and elected officials, political parties, members of the diaspora community and the general public, the government adds.
Still, the federal filing says the government welcomes recommendations to strengthen its mechanisms and responses.
“There is always room to continue improving.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2024.