Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to claims made by the Commissioner of the public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections, stating that Justice Hogue is incorrect that he’s withholding relevant cabinet documents.
Justice Marie-Josée Hogue noted in her interim report on May 3 that the Liberal Government is redacting and withholding cabinet documents, preventing her from fulfilling her job.
It comes after Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc assured that the Commission into Foreign Interference would have “all relevant cabinet documents,” even if sensitive information couldn’t be publicly disclosed.
Asked on Thursday about the controversy, Prime Minister Trudeau said it’s false.
“We have actually shared more Cabinet confidences than any previous government in history,” he said.
The reporter followed up, “Last year though, your public safety minister said the inquiry would have access to all relevant cabinet documents and the information we have is you. You’ve broken that promise. Why?”
Trudeau replied, “That is incorrect. We actually delivered the four relevant MC’s to — memorandums to cabinet — to the inquiries.”
He added, “We have demonstrated unprecedented transparency.”
The PM went on to say that his government has done “more than any previous government” to counter foreign interference.
Justice Hogue says cabinet documents being withheld
The May 3 “initial report” from Justice Hogue concluded that the Chinese Communist Party interfered in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian elections, and may have flipped some ridings, but says the overall result would have been the same.
However, the Trudeau government has invoked cabinet confidentiality to withhold and redact certain records, including the Privy Council Office (PCO), which answers directly to Prime Minister Trudeau.
Justice Hogue noted in her May 3 report that “discussions as to the application of these privileges is ongoing,” directly contradicting Trudeau’s assertion that he’s not withholding or redacting relevant documents.
The PCO confirmed that 9% of the 33,000 documents given to the inquiry contain redactions.
The exact number of completely withheld documents remains undisclosed.
