Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will testify for the second time Wednesday in the federal inquiry into foreign interference.
The prime minister’s appearance comes after weeks of public hearings as part of the second stage of a public inquiry into foreign interference in the federal electoral process and democratic institutions.
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Prime Minister Trudeau’s testimony, which has been public for some time, has revealed that the RCMP has credible evidence linking Indian diplomats and consular officials to secret and serious criminal activity in this country. The announcement came amid growing international attention over India’s suspicions of foreign interference in Canada.
The second phase of the public inquiry will focus on the federal government’s capacity and ability to “detect, deter and counter” foreign interference targeting Canada’s democracy and electoral processes and the experiences of diaspora communities. . Questions to the prime minister are expected to focus on these topics.
The more forward-looking part of the study is aimed at helping Canada strengthen its democratic process against future threats as the next federal election approaches.
The prime minister’s first testimony in April last year was set to reveal whether China, Russia and other foreign actors interfered in the past two federal votes, and how the government responded. It was part of the initial fact-finding phase of the focused investigation.
At the first hearing, the Prime Minister delved into what and when he knew about specific allegations of interference, and complained about the “sensational” leaks at the center of the controversy.
Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue submitted her first report in May, concluding that Chinese interference in some elections did not affect the overall outcome of the 2019 and 2021 Canadian general elections. Ta.
Prime Minister Trudeau will be the last witness to take the stand, following secondary testimony from senior government officials and ministers in recent days. The inquiry will then conduct a series of expert roundtables to provide Mr Hogue’s final recommendations.
The final report of the investigation is expected to be submitted to the government by December 31 in both official languages.
