CSIS reached out to chief electoral officer on possible foreign interference

Chief Electoral Officer Stephane Perrault speaks at a press conference about Elections Canada’s recommendations report from the 43rd and 44th general elections in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.

Canada’s spy agency told chief electoral officer Stéphane Perrault that it believed there could be a case of foreign interference in a 2019 nomination race.

The revelation came as Perrault testified at the public inquiry into foreign election inquiry Thursday, which zeroed in on party nomination contests and how hostile actors may attempt to meddle in Canadian democracy even before an election begins.

Perrault told the commission that CSIS informed him of a “fact situation that could have involved foreign interference related to voting in the nomination contest in the riding of Don Valley.”

But Perrault, said he could not identify the party or candidate involved for legal reasons.

Global News reported last year national security sources were convinced it was the Liberals’ nomination race in 2019 and that Chinese state actors were involved.

Han Dong won the Don Valley North nomination contest and went onto become the member of Parliament. He now sits as an independent MP.

Dong denies allegations the Chinese helped his campaign and is suing Global News. He was not at Thursday’s hearing. Dong’s lawyer was present but had no questions for Perrault.

Throughout the inquiry, the commission heard nomination contests can be particularly vulnerable to foreign influence because there are few rules that govern how parties select candidates in individual ridings.

“[Nomination races are] very easy to manipulate. It’s very easy to mobilize. It’s very east to give cash to candidates. There’s very little oversight on how nominations are done in this country,” testified Jaskaran Sandhu, with the Sikh Coalition on Wednesday.

Despite the concerns, Perrault said there is “generally no appetite” from political parties to “regulate” the process.

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After Perrault says he received information from CSIS about the Don Valley race, he “determined that no action could be taken, in part because participation in a nomination contest is not regulated in the same way as an election.”

“The only aspect that is regulated is the financial aspect of the nomination contest,” he added.

Perrault said an audit was done of the Don Valley nomination process as part of “ordinary course” and referred to the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections.

He added the subject matter of that referral did not relate to allegations of foreign interference.

Global News asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Thursday about the Don Valley North nomination contest, but he would not comment directly on Perrault’s testimony.

“In all the reports following 2019, 2021, we can reassure Canadians that the integrity of our elections was not compromised despite attempts,” said Trudeau at an announcement in Vancouver.

Perrault said he has confidence in the integrity of the last two general elections, but acknowledged he lacks the authority to investigate meddling in Canadian democracy.