Canada’s Justin Trudeau orders new probes into alleged election interference by China
- Special investigator to decide whether there should be a public inquiry into reports of Chinese interference in Canada’s elections
- China denies all allegations of interference, saying it has no interest in meddling with Canada’s internal affairs
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday he will appoint an independent special investigator to probe alleged election interference by China and also announced separate new probes into the suspected foreign meddling.
Canadian media have recently published detailed reports, citing anonymous intelligence sources, alleging schemes run by China to interfere in Canada’s elections in 2021 and 2019.
Trudeau has come under scrutiny ever since those media reports came out and a recent poll showed a majority of Canadians wanted him to respond more forcefully to alleged election interference by China.
“I will be appointing an independent special rapporteur, who will have a wide mandate and make expert recommendations on combating interference and strengthening our democracy,” Trudeau told reporters in a press briefing.
The rapporteur will be an “eminent Canadian” and will have power to make recommendations on foreign interference including a public inquiry, Trudeau said.
The prime minister also said he asked lawmakers in the parliament’s national security committee to launch an investigation into the alleged foreign election interference.