OTTAWA – The Green Party of Canada repeats its call for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre to ask for top-level security clearance undertaking the review process with Canada’s security agencies. Canadians have a right to know if he can obtain top secret security clearance — or if he is in some way compromised by favours owed. His refusal to ask for top secret clearance, when every other federal party leader has done so, is inexplicable. The plausible explanation is unpalatable. Does he fear what it might uncover? If he were to become Prime Minister, such clearance is his automatically.
“Only one party leader has refused to ask for top secret security clearance,” said co-leader Elizabeth May. “I went through the process and know it is rigorous. The security experts dig and double check to be sure anyone receiving top secret security clearance is loyal only to Canada and cannot be pressured by foreign interests. The CSIS review is to ensure no one in power in Canadian government is compromised, owing favours to any foreign interests. If Pierre Poilievre were to become PM he would receive the Top Secret clearance automatically – with no review.”
“Canadian voters have only one way to know that Pierre Poilievre is not compromised by the fact that Prime Minister Modi favoured him in the Conservative leadership race,” Elizabeth May explained. “Canadians have a right to know BEFORE they head to the polls. Only Pierre Poilievre has it in his power to eliminate this cloud of doubt. As Mme Justice Hogue also recommended – he must do so. Time is running out.”
“Canadians deserve to know whether a leader of a political party is compromised,” said co-leader Jonathan Pedneault. “A CSIS official has recently gone on the record saying what the NSICOP report already said. We need to know if India has tampered in the Conservative Party’s leadership race. We need to know if Narendra Modi is actively interfering in Canada’s democratic process. We need to get to the bottom of this. The stakes are too high. I myself have started the process and in the middle of filling the needed documents to request the clearance. It is critical that leaders be transparent.””
Richard Fadden, former CSIS director and national security and intelligence advisor to Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau, has argued that Pierre Polievre has a responsibility to the public in removing suspicion. National security and intelligence expert, Wesley Wark, has argued the same, having stated that Pierre Polievre is “playing with Canadians” by refusing to get a top-level security clearance.
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For more information or to arrange an interview :
Fabrice Lachance Nové
Press secretary
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Rod Legget
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