Liberal MPs will request the recall of Parliament’s Public Safety and National Security committee to get answers about the Prime Ministers’ Office role in the highly unusual timing of troubling public accusations made by the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
“It is inconceivable that, on the eve of state visits to Canada and the G8 and G20, the Prime Minister’s Office had no knowledge of the allegations made public by CSIS,” said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. “Right when the world is coming to Canada, this government has chosen to cast a cloud on Canadians of diverse backgrounds. This is unacceptable to millions of Canadians of diverse origins – and we’ll call back the National Security committee to find out why it happened.”
In a highly publicized CBC interview, CSIS Director Dick Fadden said that foreign governments are influencing politicians in at least two provincial cabinets and infiltrating university campuses. In the interview, Mr. Fadden specifically said that he had given this information to the Prime Minister’s department, and that he was waiting from clearance “from the centre” to inform the provincial governments in question.
“It strains credibility that PMO had no knowledge of CSIS’ intention to go public with this information,” said Liberal Public Safety and National Security Critic Mark Holland. “We know that the Prime Minister’s department was aware of these allegations, and we know that PMO requires centralized clearance for even minor public statements, never mind an exclusive national exposé.”
The PMO routinely approves detailed “Message Event Proposals” for the most benign public announcements.
“If we are to believe the PMO, this would mean that the public became aware of possible infiltrations of foreign secret services on Canadian soil before the Prime Minister or his national security advisor,” said Mr. Holland. “I’m curious – did Mr. Harper get a briefing on security related to G8/G20, or are they spending $930 million on nothing?”
“Canadians from all backgrounds want answers to lift the cloud that has been cast on them,” concluded Mr. Holland. “We will request the recall of the National Security committee to get those answers – under oath.”
