Few details from Freeland on ‘internal’ review into alleged colluders

After saying two weeks ago that an “internal followup” would review allegations of parliamentarians colluding with foreign states, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland offered little information when asked Tuesday what that could look like.

On June 4, a day after the release of a startling national security report alleging federal politicians are “wittingly” helping other governments, Freeland said at a news conference that there would be an internal review. She has provided few details since then.

When asked again by Global News on Tuesday what an “internal followup” would look like, Freeland suggested the public inquiry into foreign interference — the independent commission, led by Quebec Justice Marie-Josee Hogue — will be reviewing the allegations, as opposed to the Liberals themselves.

“We take foreign interference very seriously. It is entirely unacceptable in our political system. And that is why the government has expanded the mandate of the Hogue inquiry to include a review of these materials. That’s the appropriate next step,” Freeland said during one of her last news conferences before the House rises for the summer.

“We are having many conversations about this and that’s the right thing to do. These are very delicate security matters.”

Last week, MPs passed a Bloc Québécois motion for the inquiry to investigate the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ (NSICOP) bombshell report that federal politicians are allegedly collaborating with foreign governments. The cross-party committee examined information gathered over the last five years.

The alleged activities include sharing secrets, accepting money from diplomats and meeting with a known intelligence officer from a foreign state.

But