Breaking: Trudeau Admits Missing At Least Five Crucial Reports Or Memos Intended For Him to Authorize Defensive Briefs to MPs
Justin Trudeau Describes For First Time His View of "PRC Targeting Paper" Held Back By His Advisor in 2023
For the first time, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has testified on his view of two explosive Canadian intelligence reports, including the "Targeting Paper," which described how Chinese diplomats assessed Canadian MPs based on how helpful or hurtful they could be to Beijing. Trudeau confirmed that this report was not shared with him by his key security advisor, Jody Thomas.
Additionally, Trudeau addressed three memos starting in 2019 that intended to brief him on foreign interference threats, all of which he claimed never reached his desk, with the intended briefings for Parliamentarians, which he was requested to authorize, only occurring in June 2024.
The inquiry into foreign interference in Canada’s elections has uncovered deep, ongoing divisions between Trudeau’s top aides and Canada’s intelligence community, with particular focus on two pivotal reports: the CSIS Targeting Paper and the PCO January 2022 Special Report. These documents, which detail how Beijing has sought to influence Canadian politics, have become central to understanding how the government responded—or failed to respond—to the growing threat of interference.
The CSIS Targeting Paper, drafted in 2021 and circulated to a small number of public servants in 2023, “named names” and outlined how Chinese diplomats categorized Canadian parliamentarians into three groups: those friendly towards Beijing, those neutral or potentially persuadable, and those deemed antagonistic due to their criticism of China’s human rights record, particularly on issues like the Uyghurs and Hong Kong.
But during his testimony, Trudeau played down the significance of this report, arguing that such categorization is a normal part of diplomacy.
“What the targeting paper actually talks about is that China has broadly classified parliamentarians in their diplomatic activities—some as being positive towards China, others who are neutral or convincible, and others who have spoken out against China,” Trudeau said. He noted that this diplomatic behavior was not surprising or new to him, comparing it to Canada's own tactics during the NAFTA negotiations with the Trump administration. “That’s just a part of diplomacy right there,” he claimed.
However, Trudeau acknowledged that despite some "interesting tidbits" in the report, his National Security Intelligence Advisor (NSIA) had decided not to pass it on to him in 2021, deeming it not significantly relevant to his understanding of China’s behavior. "I have faith, having looked at the paper, that it was indeed the right decision by the National Security Intelligence Advisor—that it wasn’t a document that significantly added in a relevant way to my understanding of the situation."
The Commission previously heard former CSIS Director David Vigneault testify he was stunned that Trudeau’s security advisor failed to share a sanitized version of the report with the Prime Minister. On the contrary, in her testimony, Jody Thomas claimed it wasn’t her decision to block the report.
The actual contents of this paper remain unknown, as they have been blocked from the Commission by Trudeau’s Attorney General.
The PCO January 2022 Special Report, reviewed by The Bureau, outlines an alarming situation. Based on over 100 CSIS reports, it detailed a covert network that implicated 11 Toronto-area candidates in the 2019 federal election in interference operations, involving clandestine fund transfers from the Toronto Chinese Consulate into proxy networks. This report stemmed from a sensitive investigation in the Greater Toronto Area, culminating in CSIS seeking a technical surveillance warrant in March 2021. The Special Report was flagged as highly sensitive and formed the backbone of the inquiry's scrutiny of Chinese influence in Canadian elections.
Both of these reports became focal points in the inquiry, revealing deep disagreements between Trudeau’s political aides and intelligence officials. Katie Telford, Trudeau’s Chief of Staff, testified that Global Affairs Canada held a divergent view from CSIS, particularly regarding the scope of foreign interference threats. The inquiry has exposed a consistent reluctance within the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to act on intelligence warnings, reflecting a broader divide between diplomacy and national security.
Three Memos and Delayed Briefings
In addition to the two reports, Trudeau faced questioning over three memos that called for him to authorize broad briefings on foreign interference risks and plans to brief Parliamentarians. Commission Counsel pressed him on why these memos, intended to reach him in 2019, 2020, and 2021, were not acted on.
"These decision points didn’t get to me," Trudeau stated, acknowledging the breakdown. "But I made it very clear throughout conversations that I would have approved of, and encouraged, briefings."
"Nobody flagged this was something of importance that was stalled, and therefore, as you pointed out, they weren’t acted on in my office," Trudeau concluded.
As a result, Parliamentarians were not briefed on foreign interference threats until June 2024, years after the intelligence reports had first raised the alarm.
“Do you have any idea why no reply was given to all of those seeking authorization?” Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue asked.
“In the third case, it actually didn’t get to my office,” Trudeau said, while offering no explanation for the second, and pointing to COVID-19 in the first.
Trudeau’s testimony, which continues today, combined with that of senior aides such as Telford and Brian Clow, highlighted the troubling rifts between the PMO and Canada’s intelligence agencies. The intelligence community, led by CSIS, has consistently sounded the alarm about Chinese interference in Canadian politics, while the PMO and Global Affairs have often pushed back on CSIS’s assessments.
The inquiry has revealed that Global Affairs and the PMO tended to downplay foreign interference concerns, particularly those involving China, in favor of maintaining diplomatic and economic ties. This stance has been at odds with CSIS, which has taken a much more hawkish view, warning of serious threats to Canada’s democratic system.
HASA Delays
Trudeau was also questioned on delays to implementing a “whole-of-government” strategy to counter aggressive interference from countries like China, India, and Russia, in the so-called Hostile State Activities Strategy (HASA).
A document described the strategy's scope as addressing: “diplomacy that may not be illegal, but that is contrary to Canadian values and interests; foreign interference, threats, or illegal activities by states against Canadian individuals or institutions, whether at home or abroad; covert or secret activities by foreign states such as espionage or sabotage; and hybrid warfare, which blends conventional warfare, irregular warfare, and cyberwarfare with other influencing methods.”
The grand strategy, started in 2018 with key aspects approved by Trudeau’s cabinet in 2022, is only partially implemented today, with a bill to counter foreign influence passed in June 2024.
"Can you explain why that happened?” Commission Counsel asked. “And did it happen quickly enough?"
Appearing to be lost in his thoughts before answering, Trudeau said:
"Oh, sorry. It absolutely happened in the time it needed to happen. It took the time we felt needed to get this right.”
More to come
The SNC-Lavalin affair, and many instances since, have demonstrated that Mr Trudeau is comfortable telling lies with arrogance and confidence.
His testimony here is likely a continuation of this pattern.
It’s an egregious situation they are portraying that beggars belief: either an astonishing level of incompetence in his staff and team, or they are telling lies to cover up. Neither is a good look.
As always with this PM, nothing is his fault.
Wilful Blindness.