QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Foreign Interference
May 11, 2023
I have a two-part question for the Government Representative in the Senate. Out of respect for this institution, I will use your proper title: Government Representative.
My question relates to two current controversies, and, rather than complaining or accusing, I will propose that my theme is solutions to complex issues.
On the matter of foreign interference and parliamentarians, while I compliment the government on the new policy announced this week that requires the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service, or CSIS, to brief up all intelligence regarding parliamentarians, can you confirm that CSIS will brief individual parliamentarians directly when there are any intelligence issues concerning those individuals going forward, as well as that CSIS will also brief them on intelligence received in recent years?
Thank you for your question. Colleagues, I’m not in a position to comment on the decisions and actions of CSIS, or any other security agency, with regard to how they may address matters of national security.
As the Prime Minister recently stated, he will be instructing CSIS to lower the threshold in determining what constitutes a sufficient level of concern. Going forward, the government has made it clear to CSIS that threats to any parliamentarians, regardless of the level of threat, need to be fully briefed up.
I would certainly be happy to bring the concerns and suggestions that you have raised to the attention of the Minister of Public Safety.
