The federal public inquiry into foreign interference is calling on the leaders of all political parties to get top-secret security clearances β a recommendation that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is not following. She recommended that all parties in the House of Commons ensure at least two of their members have top-secret clearance. Poilievre is the only party leader who has not opted to get the top-secret clearance that would allow him to receive briefings from security and intelligence agencies like CSIS.
His chief of staff does have clearance. Poilievre has said getting that clearance would amount to a gag order and would prevent him from speaking publicly about what he learns in top-secret briefings.
The final report refers Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's testimony during the public hearings in October, when he said he had information about past and current Conservative members who were engaged in or vulnerable to foreign meddling. A Conservative spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday that the government did offer Poilievre a briefing in December under a part of the CSIS Act that deals with "threat-reduction measures.
The Conservatives said they were told the briefing would not "implicate the suitability of any current parliamentarian to remain in caucus" and would concern foreign interference directed at parliamentarians.
It said government officials also told Poilievre he would be barred from speaking to anyone other than legal counsel about the briefing and would only be able to act if authorized by the government.
