Carney slams Poilievre’s ‘irresponsible’ lack of security clearance after reports India meddled in leadership

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s decision not to obtain his security clearance has once again become a focal point on the campaign trail. Reports have surfaced that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) discovered that India played a role in supporting his leadership bid.

According to The Globe and Mail, CSIS uncovered that Indian proxies were involved in fundraising and organizing within the South Asian community for Poilievre during the leadership race, which he ultimately won in 2022. Sources, who spoke to Radio-Canada on condition of anonymity, confirmed these findings but clarified that there is no evidence to suggest that Poilievre or his team were aware of these efforts.

Despite these revelations, Poilievre emerged victorious in the leadership race, securing 68 per cent of the points on the first ballot. However, CSIS did not disclose this information to Poilievre due to his lack of security clearance, a process that the Conservative leader has consistently refused to undergo. He has argued that obtaining security clearance would limit his ability to freely express opinions and criticize the government based on classified information.

The issue of security clearance has been a point of contention for months, with pressure mounting on Poilievre to address concerns regarding foreign interference within his party. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised the issue during a public inquiry on foreign interference, mentioning that there were individuals within the Conservative Party at risk of foreign interference.

Trudeau expressed willingness to brief Poilievre on these allegations and share relevant information, but Poilievre’s spokesperson indicated that he would not be able to act on the information received and rejected the terms of the meeting with CSIS. In contrast, leaders of other major political parties, including Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Green co-leader Elizabeth May, have obtained their security clearance.

The public inquiry into foreign interference has identified China and India as primary adversaries in Canada. As the election campaign progresses, Poilievre’s refusal to obtain security clearance continues to draw criticism from political rivals and raises questions about his ability to address national security threats effectively. The implications of these findings may impact voter perceptions of Poilievre’s leadership capabilities as the election approaches.