Chief Electoral Officer Asked by MPs About Reports of China Funding at Least 11 Candidates

Chief Electoral Officer Stephane Perrault speaks at a press conference about Elections Canada's recommendations report from the 43rd and 44th general elections in Ottawa on June 7, 2022. Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press

Canada’s chief electoral officer says he did not receive any reports of Beijing interfering with the 2019 federal election when asked by MPs during his testimony before the Commons House Affairs committee (PROC) on Nov. 22.

“I’ve not received any reports regarding specific instances of noncompliance with the legislation or specific instances of Chinese interference in the election,” Stéphane Perrault told the committee.

Perrault was responding to Conservative MP Michael Cooper who asked if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and any cabinet ministers had reported to Elections Canada on the issue.

Allegations of China interfering in the 2019 election, which included funding of a clandestine network of at least 11 candidates, arose after a Global News report published Nov. 7 said that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had warned Trudeau and several cabinet ministers in a series of briefings and memos in January of the matter.

“What would it take for someone like you who was in charge of the electoral process in Canada to come to the conclusion that the electoral process has been affected by foreign interference?” Conservative MP Luc Berthold asked.

“It takes more than an article in the press,” Perrault replied. “With all due respect I have for journalists, but I will not simply rely on an article in a newspaper.”

Perrault, who was appointed as chief in June 2018, said the report “doesn’t really say that the money went to the campaigns of candidates.”

“We pretend that the article says that, but we don’t know where the money went and what ends it served,” he said. “So we are here talking about attempts of corruption—trying to purchase influence, if you will—not necessarily trying to influence the elections.”

‘Have No Information’

PROC started its study of foreign election interference on Nov. 1 and has since heard testimonies from officials of Canada’s Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force, which consists of CSIS, Global Affairs, RCMP, and Communications Security Establishment (CSE).

Lyall King, a director with the CSE, testified on Nov. 3 that foreign threats to Canada’s electoral processes extend beyond the election period.

“I will just note that there were activities observed … during the election,” King said. “But I will note in context as well it’s activity also that we see on a persistent basis. That is to say that we observe things before, during, [and] after the election.”