Poilievre to Trudeau: Release Names of MPs Allegedly Involved in Foreign Interference
Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre has escalated his demand for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to release the names of Members of Parliament (MPs) who have allegedly collaborated with foreign governments in interference efforts. This comes amid heightened concerns over foreign influence in Canadian politics, specifically surrounding alleged interventions by China and India.
In a public statement Poilievre directly addressed Trudeau, accusing him of hiding crucial information that could expose foreign interference within Canada’s political system.
“My message to Justin Trudeau is: release the names of all MPs that have collaborated with foreign interference. 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,” Poilievre said.
The allegations Poilievre references have deep roots, particularly concerning China’s potential involvement in Canadian politics. This controversy gained momentum in 2023 when the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) revealed that they had been monitoring potential interference by Chinese government officials in Canadian electoral processes. CSIS warned government officials of irregularities during the nomination of Han Dong, a former Liberal MP, and Beijing’s purported role in supporting Dong’s candidacy.
Dong, who served as MP for Don Valley North, stepped down from the Liberal caucus in March 2023 and now sits as an independent, consistently denying any wrongdoing. Reports indicated that Chinese diplomats had allegedly pressured international students to support Dong’s nomination. CSIS concerns also included the organized busing of students to the nomination meeting, with allegations that many were coerced into voting for Dong, although Dong himself has denied knowledge of these activities.
As Poilievre puts it, Trudeau’s Liberal Party failed to act on early warnings. “It is Justin Trudeau and his government who repeatedly claim that they just weren’t aware of foreign interference happening right under their noses, despite a paper trail of warnings from officials,” Poilievre charged in his statement.
Poilievre also revealed that he had been briefed by senior Canadian security officials, including Nathalie Drouin, National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, and David Morrison, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, regarding foreign interference from India. He claimed that the government has the legal authority under the CSIS Act to inform Canadians about foreign interference without violating secrecy laws or controlling what officials say.
Poilievre argued that Trudeau’s office is blocking the release of information that could expose specific MPs involved in foreign interference.
“If Justin Trudeau has evidence to the contrary, he should share it with the public. 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,” Poilievre asserted, pointing to what he claims is Trudeau’s pattern of concealment and misdirection.
Additionally, Poilievre suggested that Trudeau’s efforts to keep key information from the public are part of a broader pattern to protect individuals who may be politically damaging to his administration.
“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,” he stated.
While Poilievre’s statement focused heavily on China, the Indian dimension introduces further complexity to foreign interference debates in Canadian politics. These revelations come amid growing concerns over the India-Canada diplomatic relationship, which has been fraught with tension following accusations that India may have been involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader and proponent of an independent Sikh state.
For Poilievre, the answer is clear: transparency from Trudeau’s government is essential.
“It is Justin Trudeau who has ignored my calls to release the names of Parliamentarians referenced in this spring’s NSICOP [National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians] report who have wittingly worked for the benefit of foreign governments against the interests of Canada,” he emphasized.
The 2019 Han Dong Controversy
Adding fuel to the controversy is fresh testimony that emerged in October 2024 regarding Prime Minister Trudeau’s office intervening in 2019 to prevent Han Dong from sitting on a special parliamentary committee investigating Canada-China relations.
According to Global News, senior officials, including Trudeau’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Brian Clow, testified that Dong’s candidacy was blocked due to concerns over his alleged connections to Chinese government efforts to interfere in Canadian politics.
In newly released documents, CSIS briefed Liberal Party officials during the 2019 election, warning them about Dong’s nomination. Despite the warnings, Dong continued to serve as an MP until the busing scandal came to light in 2023, raising questions about the government’s handling of such sensitive intelligence.
In his defense, Trudeau has maintained that the intelligence provided in 2019 was not “sufficient or sufficiently credible” to justify removing Dong from his position. However, Poilievre and critics in opposition continue to argue that Trudeau’s government mishandled the affair, letting Dong remain in office despite credible warnings from CSIS.
“It is Justin Trudeau’s party that willingly allowed the PRC [People’s Republic of China] consulate to bus in PRC international high school students to vote in the now infamous Han Dong nomination race,” Poilievre added.
As the controversy builds, Trudeau has remained firm, denying allegations of intentional wrongdoing and emphasizing that the intelligence gathered was insufficient for direct action. Trudeau’s office has also pointed to ongoing investigations, including a commission led by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, which is examining foreign interference in Canada’s elections. Trudeau is expected to testify before this commission soon, as its final report is due by the end of the year.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc has also indicated that any decisions about future actions, including the release of MPs’ names, would wait until the commission delivers its findings. For now, the Prime Minister’s Office has refrained from any public release of names, citing legal and procedural hurdles.
The stakes are high as both sides await the findings of the Hogue commission, which may clarify the extent of foreign interference in Canadian politics and the actions—or inactions—taken by the Trudeau government.
Information for this story was found via Global News and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
What a pant-load. Trudeau is corrupt to the core. He bribes the media, using taxpayer dollars. I question the morals & ethics of anyone that still supports him.
Names cannot be released in advance of the completion of a full investigation. It is PPs job to keep this in the news of course. He may not like that some his own MPs were also involved however when the full investigation comes to the fore. Then of course, he’ll throw another hissy fit and try to sue the investigators, or pull a DT and call it all fraudulent or corrupt. Or maybe just name call. The ultimate come back of the modern Con.