The issue of foreign interference in elections was discussed by a House of Commons committee on December 13, with Secretary of State for Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc addressing the role China in Canadian society.

“The Chinese government routinely seeks to meddle in various aspects of Canadian society, and elections are not excluded from some of their meddling efforts.”Dominic LeBlanc told the Standing Committee on Procedures and House Affairs.

He added that security apparatus experts tracking these threats “Confirmed that none of these attempted interferences had in any way an adverse effect on the results and outcome of the elections.”

Dominic LeBlanc answered a question from Conservative MP Michael Cooper about Beijing’s interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections.

Michael Cooper also asked Dominic LeBlanc if he had been informed of this interference and replied that he and other ministers had done so as part of their responsibilities.

“I have participated in some of these discussions. It’s not common, but it’s definitely something that government security and intelligence officials are bringing to my attention.”said Dominic LeBlanc, who declined to provide further details in the name of national security.

Michael Cooper then cited the document Daily Foreign Intelligence Brief of the Privy Council Office (PCO) of February 2020 and submitted to the committee confirming the existence of a “Active Network of Foreign Interference” Connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the 2019 election.

Dominic LeBlanc said he was unfamiliar with that particular report but said he took what Michael Cooper quoted at face value.

Michael Cooper also mentioned some CSIS documents pointing to Chinese attacks on politicians and constituency associations. He asked Dominic LeBlanc to identify her.

“Just because Michael Cooper irresponsibly wants to create the event for Canadian democracy doesn’t mean he gets an answer that doesn’t exist”said Dominic LeBlanc.

Michael Cooper’s question was about recent published fees by Global News against the Trudeau government, which allegedly learned of the CCP’s funding of 11 candidates in the 2019 election.

Dominic LeBlanc and Secretary of State Mélanie Joly, who also testified, said they had not seen the list of candidates.

Mélanie Joly told the committee that she had no information about foreign interference in the recent elections.

“I think you heard from the Prime Minister that he doesn’t have any information on that either.”She said.

Mélanie Joly added that Jody Thomas was the national security and intelligence adviser “Stated specifically in front of everyone that ‘we didn’t see any money going to eleven candidates, period’. So that will be my answer too.”

Jody Thomas testified before the House of Commons National Defense Committee on December 8.

“The sensational stories you read about interference are just that: sensational stories”She added.

“I don’t have this alleged list of 11 candidates”‘ said Dominic LeBlanc.

But Dominic LeBlanc did not deny being briefed on the matter by security officials, though a name was never given, likely to avoid compromising investigations or sources of information.

“I’ve seen in the media, in my conversations with security officials, that people didn’t make the list of those names.”he concluded.