Desperate times call for desperate accusations.

In a dramatic turn at Canada’s foreign interference inquiry today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that he possesses a list naming a number of past and present Conservative parliamentarians whom he claims are engaged in foreign interference.

Trudeau took aim at Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre’s decision not to seek top-level security clearance, suggesting that this amounted to a “willful” disregard of compromise threats within Poilievre’s party, which is poised to defeat Trudeau in an upcoming election, according to recent polls.

In an explosive cross-examination this afternoon, Conservative lawyer Nando De Luca pushed back, accusing Trudeau of irresponsible grandstanding.

The stunning testimony saw Trudeau assert earlier in the day:

“I have the names of a number of parliamentarians, former parliamentarians, and or candidates in the Conservative Party of Canada who are engaged, or at high risk of, or for whom there is clear intelligence around foreign interference.”

Trudeau added that he has “directed CSIS and others to try and inform the Conservative Party leader, to be warned, to be able to make decisions that protect the integrity of that party, of its members, from activities around foreign interference.”

Conservative Party lawyer Nando De Luca hit back, questioning Trudeau about whether he was aware of any Liberal politicians implicated in the same way.

Trudeau responded bluntly, “Yes,” and later pointed to “Don Valley North.”

“In your testimony earlier today, you mentioned knowing the names of past and present Conservative parliamentarians who are at risk of being compromised by foreign interference. Are you aware of any Liberal parliamentarians at risk?”

“Yes, and for other parties as well, because I have access to large amounts of information.”

Poilievre responds: “Release the names of all MPs that have collaborated with foreign interference.”

Sam Cooper:

For the first time, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has testified on his view of two explosive Canadian intelligence reports, including the “Targeting Paper,” which described how Chinese diplomats assessed Canadian MPs based on how helpful or hurtful they could be to Beijing. Trudeau confirmed that this report was not shared with him by his key security advisor, Jody Thomas.

Additionally, Trudeau addressed three memos starting in 2019 that intended to brief him on foreign interference threats, all of which he claimed never reached his desk, with the intended briefings for Parliamentarians, which he was requested to authorize, only occurring in June 2024.

The inquiry into foreign interference in Canada’s elections has uncovered deep, ongoing divisions between Trudeau’s top aides and Canada’s intelligence community, with particular focus on two pivotal reports: the CSIS Targeting Paper and the PCO January 2022 Special Report. These documents, which detail how Beijing has sought to influence Canadian politics, have become central to understanding how the government responded—or failed to respond—to the growing threat of interference. […]

However, Trudeau acknowledged that despite some “interesting tidbits” in the report, his National Security Intelligence Advisor (NSIA) had decided not to pass it on to him in 2021, deeming it not significantly relevant to his understanding of China’s behavior. “I have faith, having looked at the paper, that it was indeed the right decision by the National Security Intelligence Advisor—that it wasn’t a document that significantly added in a relevant way to my understanding of the situation.”

The actual contents of this paper are unknown, and blocked from the Commission by Trudeau’s Attorney General.

WATCH: Katie Telford and Brian Clow from Trudeau's PMO were testifying before the Foreign Interference Inquiry.
It's a long clip but worth it.
Lawyer Nando de Luca is asking about the 54 day delay in approving the warrant. They are arrogant, dismissive and disdainful. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/YhGH1YMoad

— Brian Lilley (@brianlilley) October 16, 2024

From @SheilaGunnReid: Trudeau blames CSIS for THREE memos advising unclassified briefings for parliamentarians on foreign interference languishing without action in HIS office FOR 5 YEARS.

Blacklocks:

Defence Minister Bill Blair says he cannot explain why his office waited nearly two months to approve a security warrant placing Liberal Party organizers under surveillance over suspicious contacts with members of the Chinese Communist Party. “I agree I was at all times responsible,” Blair testified at the Commission on Foreign Interference: “Was this a politically sensitive warrant?”

Oh look! Over there!!!

And an official statement from the Honourable Member For Air India.