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OTTAWA — The head of the public inquiry into foreign interference says some information will have to remain secret because Canada’s adversaries will be watching closely.
“Any information publicly disclosed as part of this investigation will become known not only to Canadians, but also to states and organizations with interests opposed to those of Canada. It is a reality that the commission must take into account,” Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue said in an opening statement.
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Wednesday marked the first day of a second set of hearings for the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference (PIFI).
The inquiry will host two weeks of hearings into alleged interference by China, Russia, India and other foreign actors on the 2019 and 2021 federal elections as well as the flow of information and intelligence amongst federal officials and politicians.
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The commission will hear from nearly 50 witnesses over 13 days including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and a coterie of ministers, the heads of the RCMP, CSIS, CSE and numerous government departments as well as officials and current and former MPs from the Conservative, NDP and Liberal parties.
Hogue said at the outset of the hearing that two of the inquiry’s biggest challenges are extremely tight timelines and balancing transparency with the need to protect sensitive information.
“No one can reasonably challenge the fact that the public, and journalists who work to inform the public, have a vested interest in knowing whether Canada’s democratic processes have been targeted by foreign actors and whether their actions had an impact on election integrity,” Hogue said.
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“On the other hand… a public inquiry that would reveal highly sensitive information could, depending on the circumstances, do more harm than good,” she added.
Hogue cited information relating to sources of intelligence, means of collecting it or the targets of intelligence as examples of information that needs to stay secret.
The commission is expected to hear from members of diaspora communities on their experiences with foreign interference Wednesday afternoon.
National Post
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