(UnitedVoice.com) – Foreign interference in democratic elections across the world has been an ongoing problem. Law enforcement officials have repeatedly warned of China, Iran, Russia, and others meddling in America’s elections. France, Italy, and several other nations have also dealt with the issue. Canadian lawmakers have now revealed a massive scheme in their country.
Shocking Report
On June 3, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) released a shocking report about some of Canada’s lawmakers acting as “witting or semi-witting” participants in foreign meddling. According to the heavily redacted report, the parliamentarians “knowingly or through willful blindness” accepted benefits or funds from foreign governments.
The parliamentarians were also accused of frequently communicating with foreign missions to obtain support for businesses or community groups that the missions promised to mobilize in favor of the lawmakers during or before political campaigns.
The report also claims the members of parliament acted on requests from foreign officials to influence official business or their colleagues to help the foreign nation. They are facing allegations that they provided confidential information to intelligence officers from foreign states. Finally, they are accused of providing foreign agents with privileged information that would be used improperly.
The report criticized the government for not doing anything to stop the “deeply unethical” behavior of those involved. It blames the “slow response to a known threat” as something that Canadians will feel the consequences of for years.
Who Are They?
The committee that investigated the allegations and released the report is a group of senators and MPs who have top-secret security clearances and must keep the information they learned secret under the Security of Information Act. They did not release the names of the parliamentarians involved in the scandal. However, the report stated India and China are the “most active perpetrators” in the scheme to meddle in the North American country’s affairs.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wants the government to unmask the identities of the individuals involved. He argued, “Canadians have a right to know who and what is the information — who are they?”
NSICOP Chairman David McGuinty said the committee is not able to release the names of the individuals who were named in the report. He explained there’s nothing the committee can do moving forward.
What Now?
McGuinty said the matter is now in the hands of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The law enforcement agency won’t give any information about whether there is a criminal investigation taking place into any specific lawmakers. But there are probes into many foreign interference efforts.
Conservatives are calling on Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to release the identities of the lawmakers in question. The PM has not indicated whether he will.
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