CSIS boss defends 'foreign interference' comments

CBC News Monday, July 5, 2010 12:31 PM ET

CSIS director Richard Fadden is before a special House committee meeting, addressing criticism of his candid interview with CBC News by saying it's "good public policy" for Canadians to be more informed about "foreign interference" threats. "My comments did not in any way threaten national security," he told the public safety committee of his suggestion that some Canadian politicians are being influenced by foreign governments. He added he "would not offer such detail again," but firmly said he stood behind his comments. The head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service was called to the specially convened House of Commons session to answer questions about his comments in a CBC News interview that aired last month, just as world leaders began arriving for the G8/G20 summits.

In an exclusive interview with the CBC that aired on June 22, Fadden said foreign governments — including China — hold influence over at least two cabinet ministers in two provinces, and are also involved with municipal politicians in B.C. and federal public servants. He did not provide any names. At committee Monday, Fadden continued to refuse to reveal who he was referring to and which provinces are involved, citing operational procedure. When opposition MPs on the committee argued by refusing to do so, he was tainting all politicians, Fadden disagreed, saying the MPs are "exaggerating." During the CBC Interview, Fadden also said the agency was in the process of discussing with the Privy Council Office the best way to inform those provinces there may be a problem. The Prime Minister's Office later issued a statement saying they had "no knowledge of these matters." Fadden followed up with a "clarification" after the interview aired, saying he had not informed anyone in the PMO or the Privy Council Office, the bureacratic wing of the PMO, about the specific threats.

In Fadden's testimony Monday, Fadden clarified further that he did bring up the cases with the prime minister's national security adviser, seeking advice on how to proceed if CSIS were to find any undue influence on the provincial officials. Fadden also testified that since the CBC interview, he has spoken with Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, promising a report on the specific cases to which he referred, once CSIS has completed such a report.