Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to testify before the public inquiry into foreign interference, along with other senior government officials, as hearings resume on March 27 to examine the extent of foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
In a March 22 press release, the Commission on Foreign Interference stated that over 40 individuals will be involved in the hearings, including current and former elected officials, representatives of Elections Canada and the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections, along with current and former senior government officials, members of cabinet, and Mr. Trudeau.
Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue commented on the goal of the hearings, saying she hopes they will give Canadians “a better understanding of the foreign interference threats our electoral system may have faced in the 2019 and 2021 elections, the protective mechanisms that were in place, and the potential impact, if any, on the integrity of the elections.”
A schedule of witnesses who will appear before the commission is expected to be released next week, according to the press release. The commission is expected to produce an interim report in May and a final report in December.
The foreign interference commission was created in response to concerns about foreign interference, primarily by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
The inquiry was formed after pressure by Opposition parties, and has been rife with controversy and criticism by rights groups and the Conservative Party.
With full standing, the individuals can question witnesses and access some of the non-public documents, which rights groups say endangers the security of witnesses.
Conservatives have also been critical of the inquiry, saying they should have been granted the same full standing as the federal government. CSIS leaks reported by media say the CCP targeted the Conservatives they weren’t elected.
