MEDIA RELEASE: Liberals vote against an NDP motion calling for an independent public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections

OTTAWA — On Thursday, the NDP forced a vote to launch a national, independent, public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in Canada’s electoral system. The vote comes a day after Liberal MP Han Dong left caucus over troubling allegations, the most recent report in a litany of growing claims about foreign interference. While the Liberals refused to support a public inquiry to reassure Canadians that their vote and voices are represented in our elections, the motion was still passed with all opposition party support.

“It is unsettling that Justin Trudeau is resisting launching a public inquiry into foreign interference in our democracy,” said Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. “With allegations mounting that both Conservative and Liberal candidates may have been involved in foreign interference schemes, Canadians expect transparency and action to restore their confidence in our election process. It’s inconceivable that the Prime Minister is denying people the transparency they deserve from their elected officials.”

Liberals vote against an NDP motion calling for an independent public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections

OTTAWA — On Thursday, the NDP forced a vote to launch a national, independent, public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in Canada’s electoral system. The vote comes a day after Liberal MP Han Dong left caucus over troubling allegations, the most recent report in a litany of growing claims about foreign interference. While the Liberals refused to support a public inquiry to reassure Canadians that their vote and voices are represented in our elections, the motion was still passed with all opposition party support.

“It is unsettling that Justin Trudeau is resisting launching a public inquiry into foreign interference in our democracy,” said Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. “With allegations mounting that both Conservative and Liberal candidates may have been involved in foreign interference schemes, Canadians expect transparency and action to restore their confidence in our election process. It’s inconceivable that the Prime Minister is denying people the transparency they deserve from their elected officials.”

New Democrats have been pushing for an independent public inquiry into foreign interference for weeks. Singh says this is the only responsible way to get answers for Canadians.

“Despite the Liberals’ no-vote, our NDP motion passed and now Justin Trudeau needs to launch an independent public inquiry into foreign interference — it’s the right thing to do,” said Singh. “This issue is too important for Partisan games. Enough delaying, the prime minister should have called an inquiry weeks ago. Just call it and we can start getting to the bottom of these serious allegations — Canadians deserve the truth.”

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I call on the Canadian government to take urgent and decisive action to:

1. Strongly condemn the Hong Kong government’s NSL and the targeting of overseas activists, including Canadian citizens and residents, and call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Hong Kong.

2. Impose targeted sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials responsible for human rights violations and the erosion of Hong Kong’s freedoms.

3. Stop according any special rights or diplomatic status to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade offices in Canada.

4. Expedite the processing of PR application for Hong Kongers fleeing political persecution and to automatically renew their work and study permit in the meantime.