Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appears as a witness at the federal inquiry into foreign interference in Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

By Jim Bronskill and Laura Osman, Canadian Press

Trudeau says he has list of Tories vulnerable to, or engaged in foreign interference

Oct 16, 2024 | 11:41 AM

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has refused to get the security clearance necessary to be briefed on a list of people in his party involved in, or vulnerable to, foreign interference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a federal commission of inquiry Wednesday.

“I have the names of a number of parliamentarians, former parliamentarians and-or candidates in the Conservative Party of Canada who are engaged (in) or at high risk of or for whom there is clear intelligence around foreign interference,” Trudeau said.

“I have directed CSIS and others to try and inform the Conservative party leader to be warned and armed,” so that Poilievre could make decisions to protect the integrity of the party and guard members against attempts at foreign interference, he said.

Trudeau said Poilievre, however, has opted not to receive classified briefings — a decision that he finds bewildering.

He said it also means nobody can stand up for the people in question if the intelligence is poor, incomplete or simply contains allegations from a single source.

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Poilievre has previously defended his choice not to try to obtain a high-level security clearance.

He has said it would prevent him from speaking out about what he has learned in secret briefings.

The Conservatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2024.