The House of Commons procedure and House affairs committee unanimously agreed Tuesday to summon national security agencies and Liberal cabinet ministers to testify about China's alleged influence over the last federal election.
The move comes in response to a report last week from the Globe and Mail newspaper that said China worked in the 2021 election to defeat Conservative politicians considered unfriendly to Beijing and to help ensure a Liberal minority government.
"This really goes to the foundations of our democracy, and we need to get hearings underway as soon as possible to bring relevant ministers and to get answers," Conservative MP Michael Cooper told The Canadian Press on Tuesday.Conservative MP Michael Cooper rises during question period in Ottawa on Nov. 22, 2022.
Michael Pal, an associate law professor at the University of Ottawa, said that academic sources, journalists and Canada's national security agencies have suggested "foreign interference happens in every federal election in Canada now," although its effects remain unclear. "Presumably they either didn't have the intelligence at the time, or they had it and it just did not, in their estimation, rise to the level necessary to make such an announcement to the public," Pal said.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Commons Committee seeks to expand hearings to probe Chinese interference in 2021 electionMPs on committee to return Tuesday despite Parliament’s two-week break to tackle revelations from Globe and Mail report
Read more »
Politics Briefing: Commons committee probing Chinese interference wants to look into the 2021 electionThe meeting of the standing committee on procedure and House affairs came despite a two-week break at Parliament
Read more »
Ontario MPP puts forward proposal that could keep Schreiner from running as Ontario Liberal LeaderWith the legislature resuming today questions remain as to whether Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner will cross the floor to join the Ontario Liberal Party, a move that would position him as a contender in their leadership race.
Read more »
Ontario MPP puts forward proposal that could keep Schreiner from running as Ontario Liberal LeaderWith the legislature resuming today questions remain as to whether Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner will cross the floor to join the Ontario Liberal Party, a move that would position him as a contender in their leadership race.
Read more »
Liberal's 'just transition' clean energy jobs plan is a plan for more plansWhile there\u0027s little new in the plan, it\u0027s the first time Canada\u0027s plans to transition to clean energy jobs has been collected in one place.
Read more »
Ontario Green Leader Mike Schreiner says he won't run for Liberal leadershipOntario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner says he’s staying put in his role as Green Leader after weighing an invitation to run for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party.
Read more »