Amid concerns of foreign meddling, B.C. Premier David Eby has reached out to the prime minister’s national security adviser for assistance in vetting political party members in his province for potential ties to nefarious foreign entities. Records submitted to the Foreign Interference Commission reveal that Eby raised various topics during a meeting with National Security and Intelligence Advisor (NSIA) Jody Thomas, including foreign interference, election security, countering fentanyl and organized crime, money laundering, corruption, and strengthening provincial and community security.
The document entered as evidence at the inquiry on October 7 does not specify when the meeting took place or who requested it. It also does not provide details about Thomas’s responses to Eby’s questions but includes draft responses prepared by the Privy Council Office (PCO), where NSIA is housed.
According to the document, federal security and intelligence agencies do not conduct political party checks as part of their mandated responsibilities. The PCO document further reveals that Eby raised additional questions regarding elections and foreign interference during his meeting with Thomas. He sought clarification on whether he would be notified if any of his nominees or candidates had inappropriate contact with foreign states. Additionally, he inquired about how he would be informed of any foreign state interference in provincial elections and how he should notify opposition leaders if such interference occurred.
In response to these queries, PCO stated that it is unclear what authority the B.C. Premier has to request or receive such information. They emphasized that Canadian political party candidates have rights similar to all citizens, including freedom of assembly and protection against unreasonable search and seizure.
While discussing this matter, Eldebs mentioned that both intelligence agencies – CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) and CSE (Communications Security Establishment) – have implemented robust measures following the passage of Bill C-70.
The article does not provide a conclusion or final remarks on this issue.