OTTAWA — The prime minister’s chief of staff will appear before a parliamentary committee Friday to discuss what she knows about alleged Chinese interference in Canada’s two most recent elections.
Katie Telford is set to testify before the House Procedure and Affairs Committee, which is investigating potential foreign meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
Recent witnesses, which include the head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, have not revealed much in their testimonies, citing national security restrictions that may restrict what they can say.
Members of Canada’s Conservative party, including Tory MP Michael Cooper, have been trying to persuade Telford to respond to inquiries. Cooper calls Telford “the second most powerful person” in the Liberal government.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has spoken about foreign influence with Telford several times, calling it an issue that needs to be taken seriously.