Reports of past interference by the Indian government have emerged in connection with Canada’s general election, placing Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre on the defensive. Canadian intelligence officials stated that Indian agents and proxies raised funds and organized support for Poilievre during the 2022 Conservative Party leadership race, which he won. However, officials noted there was no evidence that Poilievre or his associates were aware of this interference.
There is no indication that the reported meddling affected the outcome of the leadership race, which Poilievre secured with 68 percent of the votes in the first round. Nevertheless, the news has reignited concerns regarding Poilievre’s refusal to obtain top security clearance, which would allow him access to classified briefings on foreign interference in Canada.
Canadian intelligence did not inform Poilievre about the interference due to his lack of security clearance, as reported by The Globe and Mail. A yearlong public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian politics identified India, along with China, as a prominent actor, indicating support for candidates perceived as pro-India. The inquiry also confirmed that India interfered in a Conservative Party leadership race, but Tuesday’s reports specifically linked India’s actions to Poilievre’s 2022 victory.
During a news conference, Poilievre asserted that he “won the leadership fair and square” and reiterated his stance against seeking security clearance, claiming it would restrict his ability to speak on these issues. He accused the Liberal-led government of attempting to impose an “oath of secrecy” on him.
In response, Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized Poilievre’s refusal to pursue security clearance, labeling it “irresponsible.” Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois, commented that he had never felt restricted after receiving security clearance and suggested that Poilievre’s decision was intended to protect Conservative candidates from potential withdrawal.
The public inquiry also revealed interference by China and India in Canada’s previous elections. The Chinese government primarily supported Liberal Party candidates, while attempting to undermine Conservative candidates critical of its human rights record. In contrast, India has had strained relations with the Liberal Party, which it accuses of supporting Sikh-Canadians advocating for a separate Sikh state in India.
Former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper expressed his disappointment regarding deteriorating relations between India and Canada during a recent visit to India, referencing the issue of Indian agents’ alleged involvement in the assassination of a Sikh-Canadian activist in Vancouver as a source of tension over the past two years.