Section one: Foreign interference
Special report into the allegations associated with Prime Minister Trudeau’s official visit to India in February 2018

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12. This section of the report addresses allegations of foreign interference ***. In its review, the Committee sought to:

  • Develop a detailed chronology of events surrounding the Prime Minister’s trip to India in February 2018, ***;
  • Determine if and when security and intelligence agencies and officials briefed other government organizations or officials, including members and staff of the Government, on allegations of foreign interference; and,
  • Determine if organizations took measures to mitigate or block such activities.

***

13. The information provided to the Committee shows that ***:

  • ***.
  • ***.
  • ***.
  • ***.

14. Based on its review, the Committee believes that ***. Footnote 1 ***. Footnote 2

15. ***. The 1985 bombing of the Air India flight from Toronto to Delhi by Canada-based Sikh terrorists was the starkest manifestation of this type of threat. According to a CSIS Intelligence Assessment, the threat from Sikh extremists in Canada peaked in the mid-1980s and declined thereafter. Footnote 3 ***. Footnote 4 ***, Jagtar Singh Johal, a British citizen who was arrested in India in November 2017 for his alleged involvement in assassinations in India. Footnote 5 ***. Footnote 6 ***. Footnote 7

16. ***, because the Committee believes it is important context for its discussion of foreign interference. The description of these interventions is meant to be illustrative: the Committee did not ask Global Affairs Canada or the Privy Council Office to provide a record of every interaction on security issues with the Indian government.

17. The report will also review ***. These two issues are treated separately for clarity, but it should be recognized that they occurred contemporaneously and each affected the other.

Recent Indian messaging on Sikh extremism

18. ***. According to government officials, these issues were raised with great regularity in bilateral meetings at all levels. Notable examples include:

  • The January 26, 2017 Canada-India security dialogue;
  • The February 2017 Canada-India Deputy National Security Advisor Dialogue;
  • The April 2017 Canada-India Counter Terrorism Working Group;
  • In April 2017, India’s Chief Minister of Punjab province refused to meet the Minister of National Defence, who was travelling in India at the time, and accused him and four other Canadian Cabinet ministers of being “Khalistanis”, *** Footnote 8
  • ***.
  • ***. Footnote 9
  • ***.
  • On October 24, 2017, the Privy Council Office Security and Intelligence Secretariat highlighted these concerns to the NSIA in a briefing note, which stated: “***.” Footnote 10
  • In a November 17, 2017 meeting between senior officials from Global Affairs Canada and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs about potential outcomes for the Prime Minister’s visit, *** Footnote 11
  • ***, Footnote 12 ***. Footnote 13 ***. Footnote 14
  • In January 2018, India formally requested a Canada-India National Security Dialogue in advance of the Prime Minister’s trip. The Privy Council Office briefing note to the NSIA stated, “This request is a key part of joint Canadian-Indian efforts to address more effectively India’s growing concerns regarding the rise of extremism *** Footnote 15
  • In February 2018, the Indian press released a number of major stories alleging Canadian complicity in Sikh extremism and the Prime Minister’s embrace of Sikh extremists. This included Outlook magazine, released February 2, with a cover page of the Prime Minister titled “Khalistan II: Made in Canada,” and 18 pages of reporting. A Hindi newspaper carried separate reporting on February 10, with allegations of terrorist support and training camps run in Canada. *** Footnote 16 *** Footnote 17

19. Members of Canada’s security and intelligence community took steps to address India’s concerns prior to the Prime Minister’s visit to India. These included:

  • January 19-23, 2018 a senior level RCMP delegation to India for bilateral talks;
  • February 5-6, 2018 a senior level multi-department delegation to India for the Canada-India Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism;
  • February 6-8, 2018 a senior level CSIS delegation to India for bilateral talks;
  • February 13-14, 2018 the NSIA to India for consultations with Indian NSA Doval and senior members of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

***

20. *** Footnote 18 *** Footnote 19 ***

21. CSIS provided an assessment *** to the National Security Advisor on September 26, 2016. Footnote 20 ***

  • ***
  • ***

22. ***

  • ***
  • ***
  • ***
  • ***
  • ***

23. CSIS provided similar information to Global Affairs Canada in February 2017 ***. Footnote 21

24. ***. Footnote 22

25. ***. Footnote 23

  • ***
  • ***
  • ***

26. *** The Committee Secretariat confirmed that undertaking with Global Affairs Canada officials. Footnote 24

27. ***.

28. *** Footnote 25 *** Footnote 26 *** Footnote 27

29. *** Footnote 28 *** Footnote 29 *** Footnote 30

30. *** Footnote 31 *** Footnote 32 *** Footnote 33

31. The Committee pursued this issue with officials. The Director of CSIS, who was at the May 17, 2017 meeting in his previous capacity as Assistant Secretary to Cabinet, Security and Intelligence, stated *** Footnote 34 *** Footnote 35 *** Footnote 36

***

32. *** Footnote 37 *** Footnote 38 ***

The NSIA’s involvement in preparations for the PM visit

33. The NSIA was an important player in preparations for the Prime Minister’s trip to India in February 2018. In his role as National Security and Intelligence Advisor, he was well aware of classified intelligence on the threats posed by Sikh extremists ***. Records reviewed by the Committee show that the NSIA received numerous briefing notes and other official documents on these issues through 2017 and 2018. As discussed earlier, the NSIA was also briefed ***.

34. The NSIA briefed the Prime Minister and some Ministers on this information. Notwithstanding other documents or oral briefings on these subjects, the NSIA provided two key documents to the Prime Minister. The first, in June 2017, was a briefing note on the ***. Footnote 39 The second, in January 2018, was a briefing note on bilateral security discussions in preparation for the Prime Minister’s trip. Footnote 40 At the Prime Minister’s direction Footnote 41 , the NSIA also briefed the Ministers of National Defence; Infrastructure and Communities; Innovation, Science and Economic Development; and Small Business and Tourism; and their Chiefs of Staff on February 7, 2018, and conducted a follow-up briefing with the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, at his request, on February 12. According to material prepared for the NSIA at that meeting, the NSIA noted among other things:

35. At the Prime Minister’s request, the NSIA also organized a briefing by CSIS and the Privy Council Office Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor for at least 12 Members of Parliament prior to their travel to India (those members travelled to coincide with the Prime Minister’s itinerary, but were not part of the official delegation). Held on February 13, the unclassified briefing focussed on Sikh extremism in Canada ***. Footnote 43

36. The NSIA’s role in preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit to India included efforts to address India’s security concerns ahead of the trip. As noted earlier, the NSIA organized a meeting with senior colleagues from the security and intelligence community to meet the Indian High Commissioner on December 5, 2017. According to a note prepared by PCO for his use at that meeting, “The main objective is to bring the Canada-India bilateral relationship back onto a positive footing in advance of the visit to India by Prime Minister Trudeau.” Footnote 44

37. In his role as coordinator of the security and intelligence community, the NSIA coordinated separate trips to India by the RCMP, a multi-departmental delegation on counter-terrorism, and CSIS in January and February 2018 to allay Indian concerns about Canadian efforts to address Sikh extremism in Canada.

38. The NSIA travelled to India for talks with his Indian counterpart on February 13 and 14 at the request of the Indian government. According to a briefing note prepared by the Privy Council Office for the NSIA, “This request is a key part of joint Canadian-Indian efforts to address more effectively India’s growing concerns regarding the rise of extremism***.” Footnote 45 The NSIA discussions with Indian National Security Advisor Doval focussed on developing a joint statement with language on a strong and united India and cooperation against terrorism. *** Footnote 46 ***. Footnote 47

39. Three days after the NSIA departed Delhi, the Prime Minister and his delegation arrived in India.

Findings with respect to allegations of foreign interference

The Committee finds that:

F1 ***

F2 ***

F3 ***

F4 ***

F5 ***

F6 *** Footnote 48 ***

Recommendations

R1

In the interest of national security, members of the House of Commons and the Senate should be briefed upon being sworn-in and regularly thereafter on the risks of foreign interference and extremism in Canada. In addition, Cabinet Ministers should be reminded of the expectations described in the Government’s Open and Accountable Government, including that Ministers exercise discretion with whom they meet or associate, and clearly distinguish between official and private media messaging Footnote 49 , and be reminded that, consistent with the Conflict of Interest Act, public office holders must always place the public interest before private interests. ***

R2

The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness should consider revising the *** to include a formal role for the National Security and Intelligence Advisor. The information provided to the Committee demonstrates that the NSIA played a significant role ***. The Committee believes that the NSIA has a legitimate role to provide advice as coordinator of the security and intelligence community and advisor to the Prime Minister. ***

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