Trudeau says he has a list of conservatives vulnerable to foreign interference

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has refused to obtain the security clearance needed to be briefed on a list of people in his party who are vulnerable to foreign interference.

Trudeau told a public inquiry today that he has ordered Canada’s spy service to brief Poilievre on the information so he can make decisions to protect the integrity of his party.

Trudeau said Poilievre, however, has chosen not to receive classified briefings, a decision he finds puzzling.

He says it also means no one can defend the people in question if the information is poor, incomplete or simply contains allegations from a single source.

Poilievre has previously defended his choice not to seek a high-level security clearance.

He has said it would prevent him from talking about what he has learned in secret briefings.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on October 16, 2024.

Jim Bronskill and Laura Osman, The Canadian Press