Trudeau says Canadians will have questions on Chinese interference 'no matter what I say'
CBC
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he knows Canadians still have questions about China's role in the past two elections — but he's still refusing to answer specific questions about the briefings he has received.
Instead, he suggested Wednesday a recently announced special rapporteur and two intelligence agencies are better placed to look into what kind of information was shared with whom.
"To be quite honest, I know that no matter what I say, Canadians continue to have questions about what we did and what we didn't," he told reporters on Parliament Hill Wednesday.
"It is of concern to people that China continues to try to interfere, and other countries are interfering in our democratic processes."
Reporters tried multiple times Wednesday morning to get the prime minister to respond to allegations that he and his national security adviser were warned that Chinese government officials were funnelling money to Canadian political candidates — despite their claims to the contrary.
According to reporting by Global News, the Privy Council Office prepared a report for the Trudeau government warning that Chinese officials in Toronto had disbursed money to a "covert network tasked to interfere in Canada's 2019 election."
"A large clandestine transfer of funds earmarked for the federal election from the PRC Consulate in Toronto was transferred to an elected provincial government official via a staff member of a 2019 federal candidate," the report says, according to Global.
WATCH: Trudeau questioned about foreign interference claims
The news organization reported in November that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) briefed Trudeau in January 2022 on Chinese efforts to interfere in that election. The interference reportedly included the Chinese government funnelling money to at least 11 candidates.
Responding to that story, Trudeau said he "never got briefings on candidates receiving money from China."
His national security and intelligence adviser, Jody Thomas, told a committee in December she saw no evidence that any candidates in the 2019 federal election were influenced by money from the Chinese government.
"The news stories that you have read about interference are just that — news stories," Thomas said.
"I'll just say it — we've not seen money going to 11 candidates, period."
On Wednesday, Trudeau said a recently announced special rapporteur will "dig deeply into everything anyone knew at any point."
Deborah Charles inspects the tall, white and red transmitter that towers above the Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) building in La Ronge. The CEO of the Saskatchewan radio network reflects on what the corporation has meant to her.
By the time you read this, you might already be knee-deep in torn wrapping paper, demolished cardboard boxes and Styrofoam whatnots from the Christmas morning frenzy.
Every December, we remind you of some of the most interesting stories CBC Hamilton shared throughout the year.
Sharing with those less fortunate than yourself is a common theme during the Christmas season — but for Fred and Elyse Maindonald, it's more than just a holiday sentiment.
Whether you’re taking transit to visit loved ones, watching Die Hard in theatres or lacing up a pair of ice skates, you’ll want to know what’s open and closed this holiday season.
For the next two weeks, some services around Waterloo region and Guelph will be closed or have altered hours because of the statutory holidays.
Yellowknife's Explorer Hotel was left with extensive damage after a vehicle crashed into the hotel's lobby late in the day on Christmas Eve.
With the final days of 2025 rapidly falling to the wayside, Canadians are likely taking stock of the last 12 months.
A new study finds that more than half of the most dangerous winter roads in Canada are in Ontario, with weather, wildlife, and urban factors contributing to collisions.
Welcome to everyone's least favourite time of year for air travel.
For some, the holiday season means packing their bags to spend time with loved ones, some of whom are half a world away.
The IWK is urging people in the Maritimes to get vaccinated for the flu after reporting a big increase in the number of children coming to emergency rooms with flu-like symptoms.