The ongoing investigation into foreign interference will have top officials from Canada’s intelligence agencies and foreign service testify on Thursday.
Dan Rogers, the deputy head of the Communications Security Establishment, responsible for signals intelligence, will be appearing.
Following him, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, David Vigneault, will appear with three colleagues. David Vigneault, and three of his colleagues.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme is scheduled to testify this afternoon, and the day will end with the head of Global Affairs Canada, deputy minister David Morrison.
The ongoing hearings are part of the inquiry’s work in examining potential foreign interference by various countries in the last two general elections, including China, India, and Russia.
The officials will likely face inquiries about the flow of information within the government, as officials from the three main federal parties reported inadequate briefing on attempted intervention by foreign states.
Individual candidates testified to the inquiry that they were displeased to learn after both elections that officials had been monitoring activity suspected of being linked to foreign states.
Intelligence leaders maintain that both the 2019 and 2021 elections were conducted freely and fairly, but the Conservatives argue that more attention should have been given to concerning activity detected in specific ridings.
On Friday, senior officials who formed a joint panel to detect foreign interference threats in the 2019 and 2021 elections are set to testify.
The commission of inquiry led by Quebec judge Marie-Josée Hogue expects to hear testimony from more than 40 individuals, including community members, political party representatives, and federal election officials.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, members of his cabinet, and various senior government officials are also scheduled to appear at the hearings, which are set to conclude April 10.
An initial report of findings from the commission is due May 3.
The inquiry will then shift to broader policy issues, focusing on the government’s capability to detect, deter, and counter foreign interference. A final report is expected by the end of the year.
