NSICOP chair says it's up to the RCMP to probe allegations of foreign interference

The chair of an intelligence review body that released an explosive report earlier this week alleging some Canadian parliamentarians «wittingly» helped foreign state actors says it's now up to RCMP to decide whether it can pursue charges.

On Monday, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), a cross-party committee of MPs and senators with top security clearances, released a long-anticipated report that looked at foreign political interference in Canada.

The heavily redacted document alleges some parliamentarians have actively helped foreign governments like China and India meddle in Canadian politics.

The report has sparked a fierce debate about the soundness of that intelligence and whether voters have a right to know whether their MP has been accused of working for another state.

Facing a barrage of questions Wednesday morning before a Liberal caucus meeting, NSICOP chair David McGuinty repeatedly told reporters that he and other members of the committee have taken an oath of secrecy and can't divulge the names or any material behind the report's redactions.

«Look, the committee's hands are tied. We can only release what we release,» he said.

«The members have always wanted to be more transparent, rather than less. We have gone as far as we can in this review to reveal information without being in breach of the Security of Information Act.»

McGuinty said it's up to the RCMP to decide what happens next.

«The question of whether or not this issue is followed up on is a question rightly put to the RCMP,» he said.

«It's up to the RCMP to decide, on the basis of any intelligence or evidence they may have in their possession, whether they're going to take steps or not.»

Hard to prosecute on