REALITY CHECK: NDP forces a vote for a public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in elections

The House of Commons will vote today on a NDP concurrence motion, brought forawrd by NDP MP Peter Julian, on the 25th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, calling on the government "to launch a national public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in Canada's democratic system, including, but not limited to, allegations of interference in general elections by foreign governments".

This motion, originally scheduled to be voted on last Tuesday, March 21, was blocked by the Conservatives.

This move by the Conservative Party raises many questions about their genuine desire to see a public, independent and transparent inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in our democratic process.

Reality check: NDP forces a vote for a public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in elections

The House of Commons will vote today on a NDP concurrence motion, brought forawrd by NDP MP Peter Julian, on the 25th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, calling on the government "to launch a national public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in Canada's democratic system, including, but not limited to, allegations of interference in general elections by foreign governments".

This motion, originally scheduled to be voted on last Tuesday, March 21, was blocked by the Conservatives.

This move by the Conservative Party raises many questions about their genuine desire to see a public, independent and transparent inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in our democratic process.

In light of the amount of leaked information published in the media and in order to free this process from the partisan politics that the Liberals and Conservatives have accustomed us to in the context of the study at the Procedure and House Affairs Committee, the NDP calls on MPs from all political parties, including the Liberal Party of Canada, to support this motion and to launch a public inquiry on this issue immediately.

Text of the motion

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(a)(vi) and the motion adopted by the committee on Thursday, March 2, 2023, the committee has considered the matter of foreign election interference.

Your committee calls on the Government of Canada to launch a national public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in Canada’s democratic system, including but not limited to allegations of interference in general elections by foreign governments;

That this inquiry be granted all the necessary powers to call witnesses from the government and from political parties;

That this inquiry investigates abuse of diaspora groups by hostile foreign governments;

That this inquiry have the power to order and review all documents it deems necessary for this work, including documents which are related to national security;

That the individual heading this inquiry be selected by unanimous agreement by the House Leaders of the officially recognized parties in the House of Commons; and

That this inquiry does not impede or stop the committee’s study on foreign election interference, including the production of documents and the calling of witnesses.

Latest posts

Canadian Press: Activists call on feds to put pressure on Israel over treatment of Gaza aid flotilla

Canadian activists detained by Israel last month while taking part in an aid flotilla trying to reach Gaza say Canada isn’t doing enough to call out treatment by Israeli officials that Ottawa has called appalling.

While Israel has rejected claims of abuse, flotilla participant Ehab Lotayef said Wednesday Israeli officials beat him on the chest and ribs, put him in uncomfortable positions for long periods and slashed his hand when he tried to help a fellow detainee.

“We felt that we were let down by Canada before anybody else, to be honest, because the Canadian government knew all that was happening,” Lotayef told a news conference on Parliament Hill.

“When we needed them was when we were being tortured — and the whole world knew that that was happening.”

Activist flotillas have tried repeatedly to reach the Gaza Strip to draw attention to tight restrictions on humanitarian supplies for Palestinians. Israel has intercepted these boats, often in international waters.

Lotayef was one of 12 Canadians among 420 flotilla activists detained by Israeli authorities last month. Their detention gained international notoriety when Israel’s Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video of himself taunting the detained activists.

*Click image or link to read the news story - https://cheknews.ca/activists-call-on-feds-to-put-pressure-on-israel-over-treatment-of-gaza-aid-flotilla-1328346/

CPAC: NDP MPs Hold a News Conference with Gaza Flotilla Activists

On Parliament Hill, NDP MP Jenny Kwan holds a news conference with Canadians who took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla to deliver aid to Gaza. She is joined by NDP MP Heather McPherson and former diplomat Richard Kohler.

*Click image or link to watch the press conference video - https://www.cpac.ca/headline-politics/episode/ndp-mps-hold-a-news-conference-with-gaza-flotilla-activists--june-3-2026?id=3bf3339c-a503-4cc2-828e-b0290ad9a424

Yahoo News: Bill C-22: NDP MP Jenny Kwan slams Lawful Access Act as 'most invasive piece of legislation'

Critics warn the controversial bill would give sweeping powers to Canadian security intelligence and law enforcement, jeopardizing the privacy and civil liberties of citizens.

This week, Bill C-22, formally called the Lawful Access Act, is moving through Parliament. The bill, which is currently being reviewed, was introduced by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government this past March, and is aiming to update criminal and national security laws for the digital age. The legislation would grant law enforcement and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) new powers as well as access to digital data and meta data.

Jenny Kwan, NDP MP for Vancouver-East, says we shouldn’t be fooled by the bill’s promises on the surface. She agrees that in this modern age, because of changes in technology, we need to modernize our lawful access approaches so that the policies in intelligence agencies can do their work.

“But effective policing and intelligence work can and should operate within a robust legal framework that preserves judicial oversight and limits data collection to what is strictly necessary,” she tells me from her constituency office. “This bill fails: It lowers the threshold for access to personal information. It expands executive authority over digital infrastructure. It mandates and enables large-scale data retention, and increases systematic exposure of private communications.”

*Click image or link to read the news story - https://ca.news.yahoo.com/bill-c-22-ndp-mp-jenny-kwan-slams-lawful-access-act-as-most-invasive-piece-of-legislation-132532250.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAK_uGIKQSU7dt0CpvhZ2cYzqc4_8YtxtaJ5JD5W3hEmlh2fQ2qcdKT9UH9_KuDrEkbM-79IZAg4jMWFobdgNmJCdbnv3p8-Tf-d5oyf9yK9E32nRnnbTyAzsVx1YRB07XbLh_crhXtu3G0Ng3OlVt3BnZDu16TejlOl_KCskwBZ9