“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed during an official probe on Wednesday that China attempted to interfere in the last two Canadian elections held. Despite these efforts, Trudeau emphasized that the election results remained unaffected by the meddling. He also stated that it was unlikely that Beijing had a preference for any particular political party over another.”
“During sworn testimony before a commission conducting a public inquiry into alleged foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian elections, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed questions regarding intelligence briefings he had received. Trudeau affirmed that the elections were conducted in a manner that upheld their integrity, emphasizing that they were “free and fair.” This testimony comes amid heightened scrutiny over foreign meddling in democratic processes.”
“Under pressure from opposition legislators dissatisfied with media reports suggesting China’s potential involvement in the elections, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau established the commission last year. The commission was tasked with investigating allegations of foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian elections. Trudeau’s decision to initiate this inquiry reflects efforts to address concerns and ensure the transparency and integrity of Canada’s democratic processes.”
“Erin O’Toole, who served as the leader of the main opposition Conservative party during the 2021 campaign, estimated that Chinese interference may have resulted in the loss of up to nine seats for his party. However, he emphasized that despite this, the interference did not alter the overall outcome of the election. It is noteworthy that Trudeau’s Liberal Party emerged victorious in both the 2019 and 2021 elections, despite these allegations of interference and their potential impact on seat distribution.”
“During his testimony, Trudeau reiterated his stance, stating, ‘Nothing we have seen and heard, despite attempts by foreign states to interfere, suggests that those elections held anything but their integrity. They were decided by Canadians.’ When questioned about an intelligence report alleging that Chinese officials in Canada expressed a preference for a Liberal minority government in 2021, believing that such a government would be more restricted in enacting anti-China policies, Trudeau responded that he had not been made aware of the report. This exchange underscores ongoing concerns about foreign influence in Canadian politics and the government’s response to such allegations.”
“In response to Trudeau’s remarks during the inquiry hearing, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canada accused Trudeau of ‘slandering’ China and expressed strong opposition to his statements. The spokesperson denounced attempts by certain politicians to target China in the public investigation, asserting that the testimony lacked substantive evidence and contained specious words. Additionally, the spokesperson emphasized that China has never had any interest in interfering in Canada’s internal affairs. This statement reflects the ongoing tensions between Canada and China regarding allegations of foreign interference in Canadian elections.”
