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OTTAWA — Conservative Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre would disclose the names of MPs “deemed to have knowingly participated in foreign interference” if his party formed government, his office said.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used his testimony before a federal inquiry into foreign interference to claim he had the names of “a number of parliamentarians, former parliamentarians and/or candidates” within the Conservative Party who, according to intelligence, “are engaged in, or at high risk of” foreign interference. Trudeau said he was aware of this information because he is prime minister.

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Poilievre accused Trudeau of “lying” and challenged him to disclose the identities of unnamed parliamentarians in a committee report that cited “disturbing” intelligence that some were “semi-conscious or conscious” participants in the efforts by foreign states to interfere in our politics. policy.”

On October 16, he issued a statement calling on Trudeau to release the names of “all MPs” known to have collaborated in foreign interference.

Poilievre has faced criticism from the ruling Liberals, New Democrats, Bloc Québécois and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May for refusing to obtain the security clearance necessary to receive classified briefings.

But Poilievre says the classified briefings would prevent him from publicly sharing what he learns. He also indicated that his chief of staff received them.

Asked by the National Post whether Poilievre would release the names if the Conservatives formed government, which many polls suggest could happen whenever a federal election is called, a spokesperson said “yes.”

“For those deemed to have knowingly participated in foreign interference, yes,” Poilievre spokesman Sebastian Skamski wrote.

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He said Poilievre “of course” would participate in classified briefings once in the prime minister’s office, adding that unlike Trudeau and his ministers, “he will actually read his intelligence briefing notes,” referring to an earlier statement by the prime minister that he preferred oral briefings to reading intelligence reports.

“(Poilièvre) will be frank and honest with Canadians and will be transparent about the threats posed by foreign interference, unlike Justin Trudeau who continues to hide and obstruct the truth for political purposes,” Skamski said.

“Justin Trudeau should release the names if he has nothing to hide.”

His office has not yet responded to questions about how a future Poilievre-led government might seek to disclose such information, given the sensitivity of sharing top secret information and the risks posed to those who collect it.

“Instead of making reckless proclamations, Mr. Poilievre should start by obtaining his security clearance in order to be properly informed about this matter,” wrote Gabriel Brunet, spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

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He said the Liberals created the committee to review the work of Canada’s intelligence agencies in a way that does not compromise national security.

NDP public safety critic Alistar MacGregor said in a statement that New Democrats would support releasing the names: “as long as it protects national security,” adding that the disclosure of highly sensitive information “should not concern political interests.”

““Pierre Poilievre refuses to make the responsible decision, the necessary thing, even though a number of compromised Conservative MPs and candidates are named in classified documents which are only accessible to him if he obtains this authorization,” declared Tuesday the Member of Parliament from British Columbia.

After the committee of top-secret security-cleared parliamentarians released its explosive report in June, revealing that some parliamentarians were knowingly involved in foreign interference, Opposition House Leader Andrew Scheer wrote to Judge Marie-Josée Hogue is asking the ongoing public inquiry into the matter to investigate the allegations.

The government also supported expanding the commission’s mandate to investigate the allegations.

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In his letter, Scheer asked Hogue to release “a finding of fact” in each alleged case and that anyone who knowingly participated in foreign interference be named in a report to Parliament.

The commission subsequently decided that it would not be able to identify the individuals involved in the allegations for several reasons, including that the allegations are based on classified information that could not be released to the individuals in question due to the need to maintain confidentiality. , which means that they would not have the opportunity to respond according to “the rules of public order”. procedural fairness.

Speaking at an unrelated housing announcement in Ottawa on Monday, Poilievre repeated how the Conservatives had asked Trudeau to release the names.

“We know he would release the names if he had them. This is a prime minister who leaks information about foreign interference whenever it serves his political goals,” Poilievre said.

“We said, ‘We have nothing to hide, so name Mr. Trudeau’…so all Canadians can hold them accountable.

Earlier this month, Trudeau made a stunning announcement that the Canadian government had expelled six Indian diplomats, including its high commissioner, after India refused to work with Canadian authorities currently investigating allegations that Indian government agents were involved in crimes ranging from murder to extortion.

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India has denied the allegations.

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