Trudeau: China tried to interfere in Canadian polls but couldn’t change results

Amid a recent investigation into alleged foreign interference in Canada’s elections, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assured the public that the elections were “free and fair” despite the efforts of other countries. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told an official inquiry on Wednesday that China’s attempts to interfere in Canada’s last two elections did not change the results and that it was “impossible” for Beijing to favor any one party, Reuters reported.

The committee was formed amid concerns from opposition MPs, focusing on reports that China could interfere in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian elections.

During the 2021 campaign, former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole claimed that Chinese interference could cost the party up to nine seats, although it did not affect the outcome.

However, Trudeau’s Liberal Party won both the 2019 and 2021 elections.

Reuters quoted Erin O’Toole as saying: “Yes, despite foreign attempts to interfere in these elections, we saw or heard nothing. These elections are decided by Canadians.”

Trudeau said he had received no reports that Chinese officials in Canada would prefer to form a Liberal minority government in 2021 because they believe a minority government has less power to pass anti-China policies.

“While individual (Chinese) officials may well have expressed a preference, the impression we got, and always will be, is that it seems highly unlikely that the Chinese government itself would express a preference in the election,” Trudeau said. .”explain.

Evidence and denials of Chinese interference

Canada’s domestic spy agency has provided evidence that China conducted “covert and deceptive” interference in two elections, exacerbating tensions between the two countries.

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Canada strongly denied these accusations and accused Trudeau of “slandering” China during the investigation hearing. “China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this.”

The spokesperson mentioned that some politicians tried to blame China during the investigation process. They said the testimony contained many unclear words and lacked real evidence.

Reuters quoted a Chinese spokesperson as saying: “China has never been interested in interfering in Canada’s internal affairs.”

Beijing has previously denied all accusations of interfering in Canadian affairs and has said it has no interest in doing so.

The election comes amid tensions between Canada and China over the arrest of an executive at Chinese company Huawei Technologies Co. in Canada and the subsequent detention of two Canadians in China on espionage charges. All three were released in 2021.

Despite these tensions, the elections went ahead and Trudeau’s Liberals emerged victorious in both elections.

According to Reuters, the committee is scheduled to release a preliminary report on May 3, with a final report expected by the end of 2024.