CSIS, Not Political Staff, Had Duty to Warn Minister on Interference Concerns, Telford Testifies

Katie Telford, chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, departs after appearing as a witness before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs studying foreign election interference, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 14, 2023. Justin Tang/The Canadian Press

The prime minister’s top adviser told a Commons committee that it was not her duty to warn a cabinet minister that someone in the 2019 election campaign had close ties to Chinese diplomats.

Katie Telford, chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, made the comments while testifying before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) on April 14.