Some politicians under foreign sway: CSIS

CBC NEWS Tuesday, June 22, 2010 | 9:45 PM PT

Canada's spy agency suspects that cabinet ministers in two provinces are under the control of foreign governments, CBC News has learned. Several members of B.C. municipal governments are also under suspicion, Richard Fadden, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, told CBC News in an exclusive interview. "We're in fact a bit worried in a couple of provinces that we have an indication that there's some political figures who have developed quite an attachment to foreign countries," Fadden said. "The individual becomes in a position to make decisions that affect the country or the province or a municipality. All of a sudden, decisions aren't taken on the basis of the public good but on the basis of another country's preoccupations." He said the politicians and public servants see it as a long-standing relationship and have no idea they are being used. "There are several municipal politicians in British Columbia and in at least two provinces there are ministers of the Crown who we think are under at least the general influence of a foreign government." Fadden said the agency is in the process of discussing with the Privy Council Office the best way to inform those provinces there may be a problem. (more)