Participants tell foreign interference inquiry to keep Canadians in the loop

As the public inquiry investigating allegations of foreign interference in Canadian politics ends its first week of hearings, the commissioner has heard over and over that she should focus on informing the public.

«It won't be enough, commissioner, for you and your counsel to learn what has gone wrong and to write it up in some confidential annex that most people will never see, because it is for the public,» said Gib van Ert, lawyer for Conservative MP Michael Chong.

This week, the long-anticipated inquiry held hearings on a major sticking point: how it can hold a public inquiry about national security matters while protecting human intelligence sources and covert methods.

Hogue is investigating whether China, Russia, India and other nations meddled in the past two elections, and how information about foreign interference flowed within the federal government. The inquiry was launched after media reports accused Beijing of interfering in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

The commission's lawyers have security clearances allowing them to review relevant documents — but they can't share classified documents with the public without government approval.

On Friday afternoon, commission participants — including lawyers for alleged targets of Chinese interference and those who have been accused of working for Beijing — made final submissions urging Hogue to push against government roadblocks and «make every effort» to get information out in the open.

«The public nature of this inquiry must exist in more than just name,» said Jon Doody, lawyer for the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, in his closing submission.

«The public must be provided with as much information as possible.»

Ottawa urged to walk the talk on transparency

Van Ert said