OTTAWA – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is defending his decision not to obtain a national-security clearance, despite mounting criticism from rival party leaders and recent reports alleging that Indian agents and their proxies may have attempted to influence the 2022 Conservative leadership race.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Poilievre dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, asserting that he won the leadership “fair and square” without any knowledge of or involvement in foreign interference. “Let’s be honest, I won the leadership fair and square,” he said, suggesting recent media reports were part of a Liberal smear campaign during the ongoing federal election.
A Globe and Mail report, citing a source with top-secret clearance, claimed that Indian-linked actors raised funds and organized within the South Asian community in support of Poilievre’s leadership bid. However, the source also noted that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had no evidence that Poilievre or his team were aware of the activity. Poilievre, lacking a security clearance, was not briefed directly by CSIS on these matters.
Poilievre stood by his refusal to obtain a clearance, arguing it would restrict his ability to speak publicly. “What I will not do is commit to the oath of secrecy… they bring me into a dark room and then tell me I can’t talk about this stuff anymore,” he said.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney called Poilievre’s position “irresponsible,” saying that in a time of heightened global tensions, Canada’s leaders must have access to classified briefings. “At this point in our history… he has to answer for that,” Carney said while campaigning in Halifax.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh echoed the criticism, pointing out that previous national security reports cited interference attempts from both Beijing and New Delhi in Conservative leadership contests. “He chose not to [get clearance] because he puts party ahead of country,” Singh said.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet also weighed in, suggesting Poilievre’s refusal may be linked to protecting certain candidates in his party. “It seems like going on vacation but leaving the garage door open,” Blanchet said of the Conservatives’ and Liberals’ lax attitudes toward interference.
Despite the criticism, CSIS clarified that impacted candidates likely had no knowledge of the alleged support. The agency said it had briefed Poilievre’s chief of staff on general threats of foreign interference, including tactics used in leadership contests.
Poilievre, in turn, accused Carney of having questionable ties to China, citing a past visit where the Liberal leader met with the deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China. He pointed to a subsequent $276-million loan from the Bank of China to Brookfield Asset Management, which Carney chaired at the time. Carney has since placed his Brookfield holdings in a blind trust.
The issue of foreign interference remains central to the current election campaign, with recent warnings from CSIS and a report from Justice Marie-Josée Hogue underscoring the role of India and China in influencing Canadian political processes. While interference attempts were confirmed, Hogue’s report emphasized that there was no clear evidence candidates knowingly benefitted from or supported such activity.
As the April 28 election draws nearer, the debate over transparency, foreign influence, and national security continues to intensify—shaping public scrutiny of party leaders and their readiness to handle global threats.
Originally published on Weekly Voice
