Will Indian Government’s ‘Flagrant Interference” In Conservative Campaign Become An Issue For Voters And Opponents In The Coming Federal Election?

While Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre may not have known that agents of the Indian government allegedly attempted to derail Patrick Brown's campaign for the leadership of the Conservative Party in 2022, which allowed Poilievre to win but will India’s flagrant interference in Canadian politics become an issue for the Conservatives in the coming election. Radio-Canada reported Monday that Brown's national campaign co-chair, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, allegedly was pressured to withdraw her support for Brown in the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership race. Allegations of interference in the Conservative Party leadership race involving a Conservative member of Parliament were first reported on last year by the Baaz News Organization, a media outlet for the Sikh community in Canada. "At least one Member of Parliament was visited by representatives of an Indian Consulate in Canada [who] urged the MP to pull their support for Patrick Brown during the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leadership race," the outlet reported in December 2023. The report did not identify the MP. According to Radio-Canada's sources, the Conservative MP in question is Michelle Rempel Garner of Calgary Nose Hill, who has denied the allegations. "Indian consulate representatives had approached Michelle, strongly suggesting that it was not in her best interest to continue working alongside Patrick," said a highly-placed source in Brown's campaign. The MP shared this information with several other members of the team, sources said. Campaign workers on the ground also were allegedly targeted, they said. "Supporters from the Hindu community were being told that they were not allowed to sign up members for Patrick Brown by officials of the Indian consulates," said a source close to the campaign. "It was also made clear to organizers of events that Indian consulates had told them you can't invite Patrick Brown to these diaspora kind of events where the consulate is going to be involved." Sources said the pressure came from Indian consular officials themselves or from their "proxies" — Canadian organizations linked to the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff With News Files

OTTAWA – While Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre may not have known that agents of the Indian government allegedly attempted to derail Patrick Brown's campaign for the leadership of the Conservative Party in 2022, which allowed Poilievre to win but will India’s flagrant interference in Canadian politics become an issue for the Conservatives in the coming election.

Radio-Canada reported Monday that Brown's national campaign co-chair, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, allegedly was pressured to withdraw her support for Brown in the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership race.

While confidential sources told Radio-Canada of this interference in trying to suppress Brown’s campaign as he was the only candidate who could have won against Poilievre but Rempel Garner categorically denies the allegation.

Currently, there is no evidence indicating that Poilievre, now the Conservative leader, was aware of the alleged actions of India's agents. He handily won the 2022 leadership race on the first ballot with 68 per cent of the available points.

Radio-Canada said it spoke separately with five people who were closely involved in Brown's leadership campaign. Brown is mayor of Brampton, Ont. and a former leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party.

The sources provided specific examples of what they said was pressure exerted by Indian consular agents in Canada to harm Brown's candidacy.

Sources said campaign workers were told by representatives of the government of India to stop supporting Brown, not to sell membership cards for him and not to invite him to certain events.

Radio-Canada granted the sources confidentiality because they say they fear for their safety.

The RCMP announced in October they have evidence that agents of the Indian government were involved in serious criminal activity in Canada, including murders and extortion.

Brown has been summoned to appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security looking into "electoral interference and criminal activities in Canada by agents of the Government of India."

Allegations of interference in the Conservative Party leadership race involving a Conservative member of Parliament were first reported on last year by the Baaz News Organization, a media outlet for the Sikh community in Canada.

"At least one Member of Parliament was visited by representatives of an Indian Consulate in Canada [who] urged the MP to pull their support for Patrick Brown during the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leadership race," the outlet reported in December 2023. The report did not identify the MP.

According to Radio-Canada's sources, the Conservative MP in question is Michelle Rempel Garner of Calgary Nose Hill.

"Indian consulate representatives had approached Michelle, strongly suggesting that it was not in her best interest to continue working alongside Patrick," said a highly-placed source in Brown's campaign.

The MP shared this information with several other members of the team, sources said.

"It was a topic of discussion in one of our campaign conference calls with her about it," said one source.

"These Indian diplomats ... approached her and told her, 'You need to retract your support for Patrick,'" said another person who took part in the campaign conference call.

Sometime later, on June 16, 2022 — in the middle of the leadership race — Rempel Garner quit her position as co-chair of Brown's campaign. She said she was seriously considering a bid to replace Jason Kenney as leader of Alberta's United Conservative Party (UCP) but dropped the idea only a week later.

Rempel Garner sent a written statement to Radio Canada.

"I left Mr. Brown's campaign completely of my own volition," she said in that statement.

"In no instance was I coerced in any manner, by anyone, at any time. I am an experienced parliamentarian, seasoned communicator, and former cabinet minister who has proven more than capable of developing senior grade positions entirely based on my own read of a situation … to suggest that I'm not is ridiculous."

In response to Radio-Canada's questions, Poilievre's office said it has "no knowledge" of any attempts by Indian government representatives to undermine Brown's campaign.

The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians cited "India's alleged interference in a Conservative Party of Canada leadership race" in its explosive report on foreign interference. A redacted version of that report was made public in June 2024.

"CSIS did not advise the Conservative Party of Canada of any intelligence suggesting there was foreign interference in the leadership contest," Sarah Fischer, director of communications for the Conservative Party, said at the time. "This is the first time we have heard about it."

Poilievre is the only party leader in Parliament who still refuses to obtain the necessary security clearance to access classified documents on foreign governments' political interference activities in Canada.

However, pressure from Indian consular officials was not limited to the directors of Brown's campaign during the Conservative Party leadership race, said Radio-Canada's sources.

Campaign workers on the ground also were allegedly targeted, they said.

"Supporters from the Hindu community were being told that they were not allowed to sign up members for Patrick Brown by officials of the Indian consulates," said a source close to the campaign.

"It was also made clear to organizers of events that Indian consulates had told them you can't invite Patrick Brown to these diaspora kind of events where the consulate is going to be involved."

Sources said the pressure came from Indian consular officials themselves or from their "proxies" — Canadian organizations linked to the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Courtesy Radio Canada