Trudeau accused of 'lying' about Tory links to interference

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Published Oct 16, 2024 • Last updated 7 minutes ago • 2 minute read

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, accused Justin Trudeau of “lying” on Wednesday during an appearance at the foreign interference inquiry after the prime minister said he allegedly has names of Conservative lawmakers involved in foreign interference. Photo by Postmedia Network files

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused Justin Trudeau of “lying” during an appearance at the foreign interference inquiry after the Prime Minister claimed to have names of Conservative lawmakers involved in foreign interference.

The top federal Tory took Trudeau to task on Wednesday in a statement posted to social media, which was headed with a terse comment: “Release the names.

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“My message to Justin Trudeau is: Release the names of all MPs that have collaborated with foreign interference,” Poilievre said in his statement.

“But he won’t. Because Justin Trudeau is doing what he always does: He is lying. He is lying to distract from a Liberal caucus revolt against his leadership and revelations he knowingly allowed Beijing to interfere and help him win two elections.”

Trudeau made the allegations on Wednesday while testifying in front of the foreign interference inquiry in Ottawa, saying he told CSIS to warn Poilievre so he could protect the “integrity” of his party.

“I have the names of a number of parliamentarians, former parliamentarians and/or candidates in the Conservative Party of Canada who are engaged or at high risk of or for whom there is clear intelligence around foreign interference,” said Trudeau, who admitted there are names of Liberal parliamentarians and members of other parties at risk of being compromised by foreign interference.

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Parliamentarians include both MPs and senators.

“And I have directed CSIS and others to try and inform the Conservative party leader to be warned and armed,” Trudeau added, “to be able to make decisions that protect the integrity of that party, of its members, from activities around foreign interference.”

In his statement, Poilievre said neither he nor his chief of staff Ian Todd, whom he said has received classified briefings in the past, have been told of any current or former Conservative parliamentarian or candidate “knowingly participating in foreign interference.

“If Justin Trudeau has evidence to the contrary, he should share it with the public,” Poilievre said. “Now that he has blurted it out in general terms at a commission of inquiry, he should release the facts. But he won’t — because he is making it up.

“It is beyond rich for Justin Trudeau to grandstand, given that the record now shows that he and his government, with all the benefits of government agencies, were repeatedly warned about foreign interference — including within the Liberal party — and refused to act.”